Barbara Erickson, CEO of Trustees of Reservations since 2012, dies from rare form of cancer

Barbara J. Erickson, chief executive of Trustees of Reservations, the oldest land trust in the country, has died after a long struggle with a rare form of appendix cancer, the Boston nonprofit said Thursday.

Erickson, who was 42, had led the Trustees since 2012, and was only the fourth person — and first woman — to hold the job since the organization was founded in 1891. She died last Friday surrounded by family at her home in Newton.

Jocelyn Forbush, who has served as acting CEO while Erickson was on medical leave, will continue in the role while the board of directors “determines the next steps,” Peter Coffin, the board’s chair, said in a letter posted on the Trustees’ website.