Born in 1926, Ernest F. Nurge, Jr., grew up in Queens Village as an only child. By his early

teens, his family rooted themselves in Hempstead, which is where he continued to hone his

baseball pitching skills. He played in the Nassau Alliance League and even showcased his

talents in the Nassau/Suffolk All Star Game. Some of his many impressive outings included

striking out a total of 23 batters in just one game. He clearly had a wicked fastball. At age 17,

Ernest attended a baseball tryout located in Freeport and the Philadelphia Phillies quickly took

notice. They were interested in signing him but unfortunately WW2 was ramping up and they

soon realized he would be drafted into the military, so it never came to fruition.

Shortly thereafter, Ernest entered the United States Army on December 19, 1944 and promptly

completed artillery training on the Howitzer. He was then assigned all of his gear with the

intention of being shipped overseas for combat. Just 5 days before his departure, his orders

were halted. His luck continued as the war was starting to wind down and he got to remain

stateside. He was assigned the position of truck driver at the base and with his all American

good looks, was selected to drive the Captain in a couple of local parades in North Carolina.

While serving in the Army, Ernest played baseball leading his team to many victories over

semi-pro teams which at times, earned him special dinners at the Officers Club. Upon an

honorable discharge, he was once again a desirable baseball prospect and was quickly picked

up but this time, by the New York Giants. He signed a contract to play on their semi-pro team

with the promise that he would be based in Maryland. Figuring he could easily get back to New

York to see his folks, he accepted. He had already been away from home for almost 2 years

and as a dutiful son, it was important for him to return home on days off. After completing spring

training in Florida, the Giants instead assigned him to a team in the deep south where he found

himself in the depths of prejudice (which was quite foreign and disturbing to him). Life as a

baseball player back then was certainly not glamorous and the pay was pitiful. He was

constantly on the road traveling in rickety buses and staying at undesirable motels. It didn't take

long before Ernest made the decision to give up on playing ball and instead, head back home to

get on with his life.

A few years later, he partnered with a friend to start an automobile seat covering business in

Franklin Square which called on car dealerships. One day, his childhood friend grabbed a few

co-workers and headed over to see Ernie at his place of business. It was that day he met his

future bride-to-be Connie. They married 1 ½ years later and eventually settled in Merrick where

he lived for 68 years and they raised their three children- Ernest III, Eric and Kimberley.

Ernest was always an honorable family man. In 1955 he had his first child on the way and

coupled with a new home, he chose more stable employment in NYC at a publication

distribution company. He worked his way up to management and stayed at that organization for

over 34 years. He was the epitome of "Steady Eddie". You could always set your watch to him.

In his 50's, 60's and 70's, he was fortunate to travel extensively throughout the world, always

with his bride Connie by his side. Cruises to various destinations and organized tours with

various friends and family became a favorite pastime. He also enjoyed many mini getaways to

Atlantic City and sought out his favorite slot machines while staying at the Borgata.

Clearly, Ernest was a good family man but his warmth and friendly nature drew everyone in. He

had a great sense of humor and was always quick witted with a smile. Both people and pets

were drawn to him and for good reason. He exuded kindness and treated everyone with

respect. He was certainly a one of a kind gentleman that was dearly loved. He touched so

many lives in his 97 years and will be sorely missed by many.

Ernest and Connie celebrated 66 years of marriage until her departure in 2020. Not a day went

by without him thinking of her but now they are together again for eternity.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Ernest Nurge Jr.'s honor to:

Good Shepherd Hospice/Development Department

110 Bi-County Blvd

Suite 114

Farmingdale, NY 11735

Call 631-465-6350 to pay by credit card or request donation envelope

EIN Number: 112958438