Ernest Drucker

Ernest Drucker, 92, of Seminole, passed away July 25, 2012. Ernest was born on Nov. 23, 1919 in Vienna, Austria. Ernest was able to escape the Holocaust and, through a circuitous route, find himself in the United States. Soon after, he enlisted in the Army and was a part of the U.S. military forces that stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 8, 1944, D-Day Plus One. He served as a counter-intelligence officer, took part in the Battle of the Bulge, and became a U.S. citizen while serving. Ernest returned to New York City after his military service, where he met his wife, Marietta. They moved to Livonia, MI in 1954, where Ernest was a highly successful custom shirt maker. Upon retiring and moving to Florida in 1995, Ernest and Marietta have been involved with many charitable organizations. Ernest has served as a docent, speaker, and member of the Florida Holocaust Museum, co-chair of the Menorah Manor Foundation, and worked at the Jewish Press of Pinellas. He also founded and served as president of the Tampa Bay chapter of American Red Magen David for Israel (ARMDI). Ernest is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Marietta; daughters, Judy (Eric) Ludin and Debbie (Mark) Sokolov; and grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob, Ari, Jesse, and Corey. Services will be held at 1 PM Thursday July 26, 2012 at Congregation B'nai Israel, 300 58th Street North, St. Petersburg. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Largo. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ernest's memory to one of three organizations: (1) ARMDI (2) Menorah Manor (Subject Line: Toby Weinman Jewish Hospice Program) (3) Congregation B'nai Israel Shiva Minyan will be held Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m.; Monday Evening at 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday Evening at 8:00 p.m. at the Drucker home, 6611 Greenbrier Drive, Seminole, FL, 33777. The family will observe Shiva Minyan at the shul on Shabbat & Tisha B'Av: Friday morning at 7:45 am; Friday evening at 7:30 pm; Saturday morning at 9:00 am; Saturday evening at 8:15 pm; Sunday at 9:00 am, 1:00 pm and 8:15 pm and on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 7:45 am. David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Central Avenue Chapel in St. Petersburg is serving the family. Service Information