This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Ernest Blee, 88, born on November 23, 1926 and passed away on January 3, 2015. We will remember him forever.
We are asking friends and family to enjoy this memorial and add stories and or pictures of your favorite memories spent with Ernie. Click the tabs above to visit the whole site and add to the stories, life or gallery pages. It is fairly easy to follow but if you have any difficulty please contact me, Mike Blee (mblee@kh.org) so that I can assist in adding your memories so that we can have a memorial that all can follow.
Internment- Ernie will be interned along side his wife, Susan, who passed away in 1999, at the Alamo Cemetary 130 El Portal Ave, Danville, California.
Family and friends are encouraged to celebrate Ernie's life in a matter that is special to them for no formal services will be held--But please hold up a glass, of scotch preferably, and toast to Ernie!
In memory of Ernie donations may be made in the name of Ernest Blee to the American Cancer Society, U.C. Berkeley Engineering Fund or any other charity of your choice.
Tributes
Leave a tributeAnd here's the honest truth. I've always said the most important men in my 51 years were my dad, Harold Crane. My college advisor Dr. Bill Andrews. My mentor, advisor, and most importantly friend Ernie Blee. My husband Chris. And my son Cameron.
We will be spending Easter in Coeur d Alene with our son who is a freshman at gonzaga. I'll say a special prayer for Ernie and keep him forever in my heart. I have no choice. He's a keeper!!
I am thinking of the many things you brought into my life, the travel, moments shared, the fun, the togetherness. We enjoyed almost 13 years! I think, also, of the many things we didn't say, however, I know how much you loved me and I did you.
You will always be in my heart; I miss you very much and know that you were one of God's miracles in my life! I miss you! MaryLou
I will never forget the first time I started working for you. It was 6 months after Sue had passed away. You just wanted someone in the house puttering around while you were working on your computer. I, never in a million years thought we would become the best of friends. I miss your jokes, conversations and your beautiful smiles. Yours forever, Sheri and Pup
Knowing you was an inspiration and though you are no longer here, you will never be forgotten. Your kindness, caring and help with Al will always have a special place in my heart and that of my family.
Love you,
Darlene and family
My husband Bill and Ernie were roommates at U.C. Berkeley and good friends while Bill was courting me. He had THE car and often drove Bill down to see me at San Jose State. He and Sue remained our good friends although many moves separated us for quite a few years. When we moved back to the Bay Area, they were very generous to us, and we had many wonderful excursions and the full Delta experience. After Bill died, Ernie had some adventures in writing and often came down to my area for advice about his work which showed remarkable effort and promise for an engineer who had the courage to try something new because he had a story to tell. I will miss him.
I feel nothing short of great regret that I didn't get to make as many memories with you as life continued on. Even so, there are amazing things you instilled in the man I am today, and I'm not simply referring to my love for good scotch. You led by example what it was to be strong, proud, and compassionate. And you could tell a hell of a story. I'm sure you're telling everybody up there some good ones right now.
Cheers, Grandpa. Goodbye for now.
Thank you, Ernie, for your friendship. Thank you for your endless kindness, caring, understanding and words of wisdom. I remember everything… and always will.
I miss you.
With Love,
Dori
You taught me:
To love unconditionally,
To find joy in Life’s simple moments,
And that Life has endless possibilities if you set your mind to it.
You are my hero.
I love you.
I miss you.
Debra
You are the best grandpa in the whole wide world. You made this all possible. You've touched and created the lives of so many people, including my family and all my cousins I love so dearly and uncles and aunts. I'll never forget how you inspired me, you are my hero. I wouldn't have done engineering had it not been for you and Jeff and for that I'm so thankful. You're the hardest worker I know, the sweetest man I know. You showed me true love is possible with grandma Susan and that life is about moments and enjoying them with those you love. Goodbye for now grandpa I love you so much, you've lived a long life of purpose and now you will travel on in peace with Susan and Casey. I will see you soon. Bye grandpa you'll always be in my heart and my family's heart.
Leave a Tribute
Childhood Memories
I have so many great memories of Dad that it’s hard to know where to begin. Dad always put his family before career or personal considerations. I remember when we were living in Fullerton and he would plan a “boy’s get-away” where he and I would motor over to Catalina Island in our 16’ Owens cabin cruiser, trolling for bonito along the way, then anchoring in Avalon harbor where I paddled around on my surf mat with my mask and snorkel looking at the fish below. I also remember when I was in Indian Guides and we went on a camping trip where each family had to make a teepee for their accommodations that night. All the dads assembled their teepees by wrapping butcher paper around their teepee poles, but Dad, being the engineer that he was, made our teepee out of canvas. Needless to say when the winds started later that night we were the only “little piggies whose house didn’t blow down”.
When we moved to the Alamo we decided to get a dog. I think Dad used his engineering problem solving skills to calculate the perfect dog for us; a dachshund we named Brandy. Brandy was a great little dog but he had a bad habit of biting people. I remember one incident in particular. Dad was always doing some kind of home improvement project and after one of these he had some leftover concrete which he fashioned into a circular stepping stone. He decided it could do with a bit of personalizing, so he decided to put the dog’s footprints in the wet concrete. Brandy didn’t appreciate the gesture and bit him on the hand. When Dad went to Kaiser for treatment he had to explain what happened…the doctor’s response was..”I would have bit you too.”
But my fondest memories were of spending summer weekends boating in the Delta. We all used to marvel at how 30 minutes after leaving Lauritzen’s yacht harbor you felt like you had left the civilized world a million miles behind…like being on the African Queen. We’d anchor the boat in Fisherman’s Cut or Potato Slough then go for a late afternoon swim; happy hour commenced promptly at 5:00. Mornings usually started with a pre-breakfast water skiing session so we could have the water to ourselves when it was just like glass. Afternoons were spent reading a good book, catching a little sun and cooling off with a jump in the Delta off the back of the boat.
I think I took these experiences for granted when I was a kid but have since come to appreciate how magical those times were and what a special person I had for a dad. Dad will always hold a special place in our memories and our hearts and will be part of our Grandpa and great Grandpa stories for years to come. He will be missed.