Ernest de Soto

Ernest de Soto We regret to announce the passing of Ernest de Soto, 92, on Monday December 29, 2014. Ernest was born and grew up in Tucson. He started his studies in printmaking at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts. It was there that he learned about printmaking. Ernest used his creativity during the war by serving with the Army Engineers as a camouflage technician. After the war Ernest went to Mexico to continue his studies in lithography. He attended and eventually taught the Escuela de Belles Artes in San Miguel de Allende and at the University de Guadalajara. He received a Ford Foundation grant in lithography at the Tamarind Lithography workshop in Hollywood where he became the first Hispanic to be awarded the title of Master printer in 1967. Ernest worked with great artists from all over the world during his more than 40-year career creating lithographs. Returning to Tucson in 1993 he spend the rest of his life in his beloved hometown. As a member of Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson Ernest had deep roots stretching back to when Tucson was nothing more than an outpost. Ernest is survived by his sisters, Erma Quiroz and Marge Roth and by his many nieces and nephews around the world. A Funeral Mass is scheduled Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 26, 2015 at Mother of Sorrows Church, 1800 S. Kolb Rd., 85710. There will be a reception in the church hall following the service. Interment will take place at Holy Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to scholarships for youth and teens for The Drawing Studio's Art of Summer Immersion program. Send your donations to The drawing Studio, Inc., 33 S. 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701-1805. Arrangements by CARRILLO'S TUCSON MORTUARY.