Mariani, Ernest, 92, of Seminole, FL passed away on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at Bay Pines VA Health Care System, Bay Pines, FL.
Born in Brent, PA, he moved to Seminole from Hawaii in 1988. He was a graduate of East High School, Class of 1939 in Youngstown, OH and active in the Reunion Committee. He was an Army Sergeant in WWII and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge for battles in Normandy, Northern France, Germany and Ardennes. Ernie was a musician and played piano in the Ernie Mariani Trio. He can be seen playing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1P2oGsQeOE. He was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles.
Ernie was preceded in death by his brother and five sisters. He is survived by several nieces and nephews.
A private interment will be at Bay Pines National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be to a charity of choice.
Please sign the guestbook at below.
I am the grand-daughter of Ernie’s good friends Roy and Betty Robinson from Kailua, HI. Uncle Ernie, as I called him, was a huge part of my life growing up. He lived in the same building as my grandparents and was a frequent guest for dinner in their home. He was sweet, quick-witted, and genuine. He challenged me at Scrabble and didn’t cut me any slack from being a “kid”. He even attempted to teach me to play piano but quickly learned that it wasn’t something I’d ever be good at. I had the pleasure of seeing him play a few times in Waikiki and enjoyed every minute of it. I haven’t seen Uncle Ernie for more than 25 years but I can remember his voice, smile, and him calling my Grandma “babe” like it was yesterday. You left a huge impression on me Uncle Ern. I will continue to cherish those memories for the rest of my life. May you rest in peace.
I didn’t know Ernie long but enjoyed what time I did.
The end of a very long frienship. It was 59 years of relatioship with many many fond memories and good times. He was like a family member who loyalty was unquestionable.
Ernie has been my friend since we met at the Orchid Club at Waikiki, Hawaii, in early 1955. Being a music lover, I immediately took to liking him, his talent and all the fun we had riding each other. Over the past 60 yrs, we have visited each others homes numerous times and I have followed him and his trio all over the U.S. to enjoy the music and further our friendship. I was lucky to visit him early in Oct. at the V.A. hospital and had a good conversation with him.
in St.Pete. I will long remember you Ernie and it’s only me, you ELLIOT. (personal joke).
Aloha Oe and Much love, Gordie, Ladelle, Becki, and Chis Bisel , Houston, TX.
I didn’t know Ernie very long but he was a wonderful guy. He had a great sense of humor. He was a good person to go to dinner with as you knew you were going to have a fun evening. I will miss him.
I’ll miss you my very good friend.
Thank you for all the good times. I’ll miss you. Aloha mi amore.
I’ll miss you my good friend.
I graduated with Ernie from East High School in 1939. He and two other classmates visited when they had their last class reunion in June 1999.He played the piano during his visit and he was excellent. I can still remember his playing the piano during our class assembly. I also play the piano but not on a professional level.
Thank you for all the good times. I’ll miss you. Aloha mi amore.
Ernie was our neighbor in the latter part of his life. He was a wonderful, kind and caring gentleman, who brought much happiness into our lives. We will never forget him and will always cherish the many happy memories we shared together. We love you, Erns, and miss you so very much. Thanks for being such a great friend.
JoAnne & Steve Goodman
my dad, bill dietrich was one one ernie’s army buddies. i remember him stopping over to the house since i was 5 years old(1961). he could play any song on the piano that we could hum. when my brother peter was at OU in the 80’s. we would join them at the alumni parties. amazing person. more charisma than i thought a person could have. at the alumni parties he always had an incredible swarm of people around him. my most sincere condolences.
michael dietrich
p.s.
uncle ernie was what we always called him too.
In 1962 I finally got to meet Bob’s buddy(Ernie)and the Crown Royal he always brought with him on
his visits to St. Petersburg to see his family. After his retirement to St. Pete, it was crazy, good
times from then on – weekly dinners, poker games, Martini’s, and music! Either listening, dancing
or singing. He told me NOT to sing because I could NOT carry a tune. You always told it like it
was; even after being called a certain type of bird – personal joke.
Going to miss you. Thank you for being a friend to me and my family for all these years starting
in 1955 with Bob
Our regards to the family.
I just found out about Erinie’s passing He was a good friend of Dad, Lee W. Tompkins. My dad just recently passed away on November 2, 2017. We love Ernie. I am hoping that Dad is playing jazz with Ernie as well as Jerri Adams, Irene Krall and Ernie Barnhart. Rest In Peace, Ernie!
Love,
Leigh-Anne