Monday, March 13, 2023
Ernie has been a near and dear friend for decades. His wife, Edna, and family and my family lived across the driveway for at least ten years. Edna's brother and I were born two weeks apart and spent our formative years together through high school. When I moved to New York City, Edna helped me find an apartment and get settled, counseling me on the NYC living experience. And when she and Ernie married, he became a part of my family as well as hers, and became my son's "Uncle Ernie." When Edna died, Ernie and I walked hand-in-hand through the subsequent days and he became an even closer extended family "relative" sharing in holiday meals and birthday celebrations. I was about to call him after a week or so since our last conversation only to get Greg's message that I had waited too long. He has been one of our closest friends, especaially diuring the 2020 pandemic. My son, Sékou, and I will greatly miss him. Jane
