Lewis J. Ernst

1931 - 2020

Lewis J. Ernst died peacefully in New York City on December 9th following a long illness, his beloved wife of 62 years, Anna (Savage), by his side. Lew was born in Boston on September 13th, 1931, one of five children of the late Roger and Katherine (Hilton) Ernst. Raised in Roslindale, where his father managed a small grocery store, Lew dropped out of high school and worked as a tree climber in Maine before joining the U.S. Army and serving in combat during the Korean War. In 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. and moved to Camp Lejeune, NC; his service was a lifelong source of pride. Because his path in the military was limited due to his lack of a college diploma, he left to pursue his GED, and started at Boston University in 1960 (the same year his first child was born). Upon his graduation three years later, he was hired as a history teacher by Hingham High School, where he became assistant principal in 1968. That year he also earned his Master of Education from Bridgewater State University, and two years later his CAGS from Northeastern University. In 1970, he was appointed principal of Framingham North High School, then returned to Hingham four years later, first as assistant superintendent and ultimately (in 1982) as superintendent of the Hingham Public Schools; Lew retired in 1991. In addition to his parents, Lew was predeceased by his four siblings, Roger, Donald, Henry, and Barbara (Moore). He leaves behind his wife; three adoring daughters, Alicia (John Katzman), Elaine (Miguel Merida-Nicolich), and Gail (Glenn Smith); and six grandchildren to whom Budka lovingly and enthusiastically devoted his retirement: Ana & Michael Merida-Nicolich, Daniel & Lyra Katzman, and Ethan & Eliza Smith. He also leaves several nieces and nephews, and counted as family two dear friends, Charlie Vickery (who predeceased him in 1996) and Ron Goba. Lew loved his dogs, his boat and the ocean, flying, reading, music, and home improvement. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lewis Ernst Scholarship Fund would be appreciated: please make checks out to Hingham Scholarship Fund, c/o Treasurer's Office, 210 Central St., Hingham, MA 02043 and note the scholarship name.