John Arthur Ernst

John A. Ernst, 79, of Brookhaven, Georgia passed away suddenly from a life well lived on November 11, 2022 at Emory St. Joseph’s hospital. He was the youngest of three children born to Arthur and Anne Ernst in Buffalo, New York.

After graduating from Orchard Park Central High School, John attended Williston Academy (now The Williston Northampton School) while awaiting appointment to the United States Naval Academy. As a midshipman at the Naval Academy, he sang in the choir, notably singing for President John F. Kennedy’s funerary ceremonies, and was on the swim team. He transferred to SUNY Buffalo State College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Latin America Studies in 1966.

John was a competitive swimmer throughout high school and college. He was a multiple state champion in a variety of events, and a silver and bronze medalist at the Junior 1958 Olympic Games. He set multiple school, state, regional and/or national records at every school he attended.

After graduating college, he received a geological survey research grant, funded by the Department of the Navy, to study beach formations along the Pacific coast in Mexico. Unknown to him at the time, information he gathered was used to plan beach assaults in Vietnam. He began his nearly 40 year career with IBM in the fall of 1966. Shortly after, John met his wife, Suzanne, in Wappingers Falls, New York, and they married in 1971. They lived in Raleigh, North Carolina and Orchard Park, New York, before moving to the metro Atlanta suburbs, which is now the city of Brookhaven, in 1977.

While working for IBM, John held multiple roles, including helping to develop construction industry software products and early touchscreen technology products, including ticketing kiosks for Lincoln Center, hotel check-in kiosks for Hilton Hotels and multimedia visitor information kiosks for the Atlanta 1996 Olympic games. In addition, he worked on early credit card chip technology. After retiring from IBM in 2004, John continued computer consulting through his own company, helping both individuals and businesses with their computer and technology needs, often forgetting to bill many hours.

A man of deep faith, John was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic church (OLA) for 45 years, where he was an active choir member and cantor, a member of the men’s bible study, a member of the strings ensemble, and served multiple ministries in a variety of volunteer capacities — from the St. Vincent De Paul Society, the Parish Council, to Boy Scouts and rewiring the entire school’s electrical grid in the 1980s.

Music was a constant in John’s life, whether it be singing in multiple choirs (sometimes driving across Atlanta multiple times on Sundays) or playing the violin in quartets and ensembles. He enjoyed camping and hiking as much as he enjoyed completing the kids’ school reports and making repairs of all sorts, especially on computers.

John was always on the hunt for the next gourmet food item or gadget to obsess over, planning his next international trip with Suzanne, making Donald Duck voices for kids of all ages, and always willing to drop everything to help a friend, neighbor or stranger in need. John found purpose in sharing in the highs and lows of the lives of everyone around him, and he was a stranger to no one. To know John was to love John, and for John to love you.

John is predeceased by his parents and sister, Judith. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Suzanne, and three children, Mayor John A. Ernst, Jr. (Monica Vining) of Brookhaven, Elizabeth S. Ernst of Brookhaven, and Timothy J. Ernst (Bobbi) of Chamblee. John is also survived by his sister Barbara Plezia (Norman) of East Aurora, New York, four grandchildren, John A., III (Jack), Evan, Norah and Ellie Ernst, and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation and Vigil will be held on Thursday, November 17 at H.M.Patterson and Son Oglethorpe Hills Chapel in Brookhaven from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm with the Vigil beginning at 7:30pm. A Funeral Mass is planned for Friday, November 18 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Brookhaven at 1:00 pm followed by inurnment and celebratory reception at Moylan Hall. Gifts may be made in John’s memory to the St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference at OLA Church, 1350 Hearst Drive, NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319, or to the charity of your choice. Please share fond memories and stories at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/atlanta-ga/john-ernst-11010526, at the Visitation or at the celebratory reception.