Erich's Dad Passed Away Weeks Before The Bachelorette's Hometown Episode Aired
His Instagrams about his father are so moving.
Season 19 of The Bachelorette is packing a punch with a new format: two leads at the same time. Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia had 32 men to get to know, date, and hopefully fall in love with, all in the span of one regular-length season. One man after one of their hearts on The Bachelorette is Erich Schwer, a real estate analyst who lives in Los Angeles. True to form, his ABC bio divulges random tidbits about him, including that that he’s into “taller women” (which may have been a clue about who he ended up pursuing, since Gabby is 5’ 9) and he “has no interest in going into an escape room.” But there’s more to Erich than these very specific fun facts. Here’s everything you need to know about him as you watch his ~journey~ unfold on screen.
Although Erich has an understated social media presence, his Instagram and LinkedIn *do* give a lot of background info on his work and hobbies. He’s clearly outdoorsy, active, and very obsessed with dogs. Erich also seems to have a funny streak; his IG handle is a jokey play on his name, @oh_for_schwer. Fans know that Gabby loves a good joke, so this could go a long way with The Bachelorette.
Erich Schwer’s Job
If Erich’s LinkedIn is any indication, he seems pretty committed to his professional life, which could win him “here for the right reasons” points for not trying to play the fame game. His LinkedIn profile says he got a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a concentration in professional sales from Elon University in North Carolina after a year at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Not shockingly for a Bachelor Nation contestant, Erich is a bonafide frat boy: Sigma Chi to be exact. His LinkedIn profile even describes his frat duties including “coordinate all major events” and “security.”
After college, Erich spent some time living in New York’s West Village neighborhood working for a variety of energy and real estate companies. Now, Erich is an acquisition analyst for a company called Rexford Industrial in Los Angeles. His ABC bio simplified this to “real estate analyst.”
Erich Schwer’s Family & Hometown
Erich grew up in Bedminster, New Jersey. He has a sister named Elise, who is also very active and outdoorsy (she runs marathons), a mom named Donna, and a dad named Al.
During his time on The Bachelorette, Erich shared how much he loves and respects his parents, especially after watching his mom support his dad through his terminal cancer diagnosis. Erich introduced Gabby to his family during their hometown date in Week 7. Just a few weeks before that episode aired on Aug. 22, Erich’s dad Al sadly died.
On July 9, 2022, Erich posted a photo of his dad on Instagram with the caption, “Thankful for everything you’ve done for me. We are gonna miss the hell out of you Big AL. I love you so much dad.”
Erich also posted a few more sentimental photos of his dad the day the hometown date aired on TV, with a simple heart emoji as the caption.
Erich Schwer’s Age
Erich was born on January 7, 1993, making him 29, three years older than Rachel and two years younger than Gabby. The cast is generally young, with Erich on the older side of the spectrum. Erich is also a Capricorn, a sign known for being sensitive and patient. Let’s hope he lives up to the description.
Erich Schwer’s Instagram
Erich’s Instagram posts go all the way back to 2014 and mainly feature outdoor activities like biking, surfing, and fishing. In the early days of his Instagram, he posted a hilarious TBT to a time when he clearly used a straightener instead of embracing his natural curls. He’s also posted since the end of filming, sharing outdoor shots in California sporting a mullet.
Erich Schwer’s Bachelorette Journey
Erich made a big impact on Gabby and had a memorable 1-on-1 date with her (and her Grandpa Joe) and then made it all the way to hometown dates. After Gabby met Erich’s family, she told him she was falling in love with him, solidifying his place as a frontrunner this season.
The Bachelorette continues Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
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