Ernest Davis Morrell II

Ernest Davis Morrell II, 54, of South Bend, Indiana passed away on February 4, 2026 at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was born on April 27, 1971 in Alameda, California to Ernest D. and Katherine (Hurts) Morrell. On July 23, 1994 he married Jodene Michele Kersten who survives. He is also survived by three sons, Amani K. Morrell, Antonio K. Morrell, and Ernest "Tripp" D. Morrell III all of South Bend, Indiana, his mother Katherine Morrell of Modesto, brothers Michael (Erica) Morrell of Peoria, Arizona and Kareem (Leann) Morrell of Modesto, California and sister Michele Cormier of Oakland. He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest Davis Morrell.

Ernest's family moved from Oakland to San Jose in 1976, where he completed his K–12 education. In high school, he was a three-sport varsity athlete and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He then attended UC Santa Barbara, majoring in English and serving as captain of the track and field team. There he met Jodene, his wife of 32 years. After marrying in 1994, they returned to Oakland, where Ernest earned his Secondary English teaching credential at UC Berkeley and taught at Oakland High School, bringing dynamic energy to his classroom while passionately coaching girls varsity basketball, cross-country, and track and field.

Ernest later earned his Master's (1997) and PhD (2001) from UC Berkeley in Language, Literacy, and Culture. Across the next decade and a half, his academic leadership took the family from Michigan State University to UCLA, then to Teachers College, Columbia University, where he served as the Macy Professor of English Education, and finally to the University of Notre Dame, where he was the Coyle Professor in Literacy Education, professor of English and Africana Studies, and Director of the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education. Along the way, Ernest and Jodene welcomed their three sons - Amani (2000), Antonio (2004), and Tripp (2011).

Ernest led a life defined by love, discipline, focus, and selflessness. Sports served as a critical space where he developed these foundational values and enjoyed success as an athlete and a coach. He shared his passion with his sons through beach runs, early Saturday morning workouts, cross country road trips to youth sports competitions, and years of coaching them in track, football, baseball, and basketball. Most recently, he helped Amani coach Tripp's school basketball team, modeling how sports can strengthen family bonds and instill essential values.

Though he earned the highest professional honors - including election to the National Academy of Education (2022) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2024) - Ernest's greatest devotion was to his family. He traveled tirelessly for keynotes, conferences, and leadership roles, yet guarded what he called his "tuck-in ratio," often taking roundtrip redeye flights so he could tuck his sons in at night.

If his sons had a passion, it became Ernest's own. When the family moved to New York, he learned lacrosse alongside them, helping Antonio rise to become an Indiana All-State athlete. He coached Amani in track, supporting him to the same distinction. When Amani discovered an interest in urban planning and development, Ernest immersed himself in the field, engaging deeply in conversations, supporting Amani's senior thesis, and championing his professional pursuits. When Tripp developed a passion for technology and gaming, Ernest brought the whole family into it - playing together, learning together, and encouraging Tripp's growth in developing apps and games. He nurtured his sons into strong, intelligent, compassionate, and motivated young men.

Ernest was a loving and supportive husband. He and Jodene found joy in long walks (tracked on their Fitbits), gardening, raking leaves, and simply being side by side. He often said they grew up together - that no one loved him more than Jodene, and no one loved Jodene more than him.

A visitation for Ernest will be held on February 20 at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Dr. South Bend, IN from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:30 pm on February 21 at The Basilica of the Sacred Heart presided by Fr. Bob Dowd, C.S.C. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery. A celebration of life reception will be held at the University of Notre Dame Downes Ballroom from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LitWorld in Ernest's honor.