Ernest Schmitz Obituary

I did not know Ernie all that well. I always enjoyed being around him though. One of my fondest memories as a young man was waiting for Mark to come home from work at the Deerbrook theatre, just Ernie and me in the kitchen at Marks' house. Mark and I were going out when he got home. I was probably 17 at the time. Ernie came in, popped open a couple of Old Styles', and we talked until Mark came home, maybe an hour later. You should have seen the look on Marks face. That was the thing about Ernie. He treated you like he knew you all his life. He was generous and kind. He never had much, but what he had, was yours for the taking. In Northbrook there are two places that Ernie liked most of all, Tonelli's, and the Cypress Inn. Mark and I toasted at Tonelli's this afternoon. The Cypress is closed for re-modeling. When it opens, I'm going to go there, probably by myself, and have an Old Style for Ernie. Godspeed my friend.