January 11, 2020. Beloved husband of The Rev. Ellen M. Montgomery (nee Maddigan); loving father of Caroline M. (Anthony L.) Adams, Robin E. Montgomery, and Nelson T. (Deanne) Montgomery; grandfather of Ian Adams, Eliza and Ramsey Tehan, and Lillian Montgomery; great-grandfather of Aila Adams; brother of the late Sarah “Sally” Montgomery. The Memorial Service originally scheduled for April 23 at Trinity Episcopal Church, with reception following immediately at the Saturn Club, has been cancelled. Any plan to reschedule has yet to be determined. Memorials to Trinity Episcopal Church, 371 Delaware Ave., Buffalo 14202 or The Nichols School. 1250 Amherst St., Buffalo 14216. Please share online condolences at www.denglerrobertspernafuneral.com
Henry Ernest (Ernie) Montgomery ll
2 Dec 1928 – 11 Jan 2020
Born in Buffalo to the late Miriam H. and Nelson T. Montgomery, Ernie was a graduate of The Nichols School in 1947. After graduating from Princeton University in 1951, he began his career at Montgomery-Mallue Lumber; in the late 60’s, he moved to Column Acoustical Corporation – later known as Arcon Systems, Inc. - a commercial contracting firm in Tonawanda where he was President and Co-owner for thirty years. Later in his career, he co-founded PlayCon, specializing in squash court construction. After retiring from Arcon, Ernie consulted as an owner’s agent, bringing his considerable expertise in the building industry to renovations and major new building projects at The Nichols School, Kleinhan’s Music Hall and the Albright Knox Art Gallery.
Ernie was a dedicated member of the greater Buffalo community serving in the Naval Reserve and on the Vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church. He was a Nichols School Trustee and Chair of the Alumni Association, past-President of the Tennis and Squash Club and the Cherry Hill Golf Club, as well as a former Board member of Child and Family Services and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Ernie also served as Chairman of the Board of the Episcopal Church Home and during that time, collaborated in both the design and building of what is now known as Canterbury Woods, an assisted living community in Williamsville and Buffalo.
Throughout his life, Ernie loved everything about the outdoors and competing in sports of all kinds. He was captain of the varsity hockey team at Nichols, skated for the varsity team at Princeton and went on to play golf, tennis and squash well into his 80’s. As a younger man, he coached the Shamrock Squirts hockey team, was an original member of the Buffalo Ski Club and an original season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres. In the mid-70’s, he fulfilled a lifelong dream in earning his single-engine pilot’s license.
He had a natural sense of rhythm and was a terrific dancer. He and his wife of 69 years, Ellen, were season ticket holders at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra for over twenty-five years.
For 40 years, Ernie and his family summered on Kawagama Lake in Dorset, Ontario where he was a charter member of the Wolf Circle Association. He and Ellen were original members of the Stratton Stragglers, a group of multi-generational friends – originally connected through Nichols - who met one weekend a year in Vermont for seventeen years.
In the mid-80’s, he wholeheartedly supported Ellen’s calling to become an Episcopal priest, which included learning how to cook while she was studying in New York City and Toronto.
Besides his wife, Ellen (Maddigan) Montgomery, he leaves his children, Carey (Tony) Adams, Robin Montgomery, and Nelson (Deanne) Montgomery ll; his grandchildren, Ian Adams, Eliza Tehan, Ramsey Tehan and Lilly Montgomery; his great-granddaughter, Aila Adams and many loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Sarah (Sally) Montgomery.
Ernie was an eminently affable man, honest and loyal - a lifelong friend and mentor to many.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or to The Nichols School.
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