He was born in Eugene, Ore., but after his father died, his mother remarried and moved the family near Portland. Prepping at The Hill School, Ernie came to Princeton as our classmate, but dropped out after two years. As a freshman, however, he was one of the lightweight crew members whose shell sank in the Potomac River, receiving international publicity and perhaps presaging his later life. Ernie then became a Navy pilot, serving on aircraft carriers in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, including the survival of a landing on the USS Wasp requiring two approaches before crash-landing on the deck.
Following naval service, he purchased a BMW motorcycle in Germany and then toured Europe and about six Mideastern countries. Upon returning to the United States, he married Barclay Ball, had three children, pursued a business career, and then endured more tragedy when his wife died at an early age. He remarried but was soon divorced, so he reared his children as a single dad for many years. He and his children enjoyed time together skiing, sailing, kayaking, and motorcycling. He became president of an industrial chemicals company but retired early, re-entered Princeton, and graduated as a member of the Class of 1987!
Continuing motorcycle and flying adventures with his children, he nevertheless saw to their graduations from college (young Ernie was in the Class of ’91) and even graduate school. During this time, he married Diane Forsgren.
Ernie is survived by Diane, his three children, two stepchildren, and six grandchildren.