Ernest Fink

Born on July 19, 1958, in Brooklyn, New York, Ernie was the son of Alfred Fink and the late Hildegard (Immel) Fink. A lifelong New Yorker, Ernie spent his early working years building cabinets before working at Glendale Lumber. He later began a career with the New York City Department of Transportation, from which he ultimately retired.

But work was only one small part of Ernie’s story.

Ernie was funny, outgoing, and a natural storyteller. He was the kind of man who could make friends wherever he went and the kind of friend who would do just about anything for someone who needed him. Those who knew him knew that friendship was never something Ernie took lightly. The relationships he built throughout his life were among the things of which he was most proud.

His German and Gottscheer heritage was an especially important part of who he was. Ernie didn’t simply come from that culture—he embraced it. It shaped his friendships, his travels, his traditions, and much of the life he loved. He traveled to Germany numerous times over the years and enjoyed driving the tour bus for Die Schlauberger. He was also a member of Schiller Lodge of the Masonic Temple, where he was serving as Master.

Ernie enjoyed golfing and spent many years bowling alongside his father, Alfred, with the Gottscheers Bowling Club. He loved traveling, being on the road, sharing stories, and, most of all, spending time with the family and friends who meant so much to him.

Among Ernie’s greatest sources of pride was his son, Justin. Ernie and Justin shared a very close relationship. Although they wished life and distance had allowed them to see one another more often, they treasured the time they did have together. One tradition they especially looked forward to was spending Father’s Day together at Lukan’s Farm in Hawley, Pennsylvania—a simple tradition that became a special part of their relationship.

Ernie is survived by his father, Alfred Fink; his son, Justin Michael Fink, and Justin’s wife, Stefanie Fink; his grandchildren, Daniel, Dakota, and Jeremy; his brother, Edmund Fink; and his former wife and the mother of his son, Darlene Nutt (Kirmaier).

He was preceded in death by his mother, Hildegard (Immel) Fink. In an especially profound loss for the Fink family, Ernie’s brother, Jeffrey Fink, passed away only hours after Ernie on October 2, leaving their family to mourn the loss of two brothers on the same day.

Ernie leaves behind far more than a list of the places he worked, the organizations he belonged to, or the places he traveled. He leaves behind stories that will continue to be told, friendships built over a lifetime, traditions that will be carried forward, and a family who loved him deeply.

He was a remarkable man, a friend to all, and he left this life far too soon.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. and 7:00–9:00 p.m. at Werst & LaBella Funeral Home, 71-41 Cooper Avenue, Glendale, New York 11385.

A cremation ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at All Souls Chapel and Crematory in Astoria, New York.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in memory of Ernie and his brother, Jeff, honoring two brothers whose loss within hours of one another has left an immeasurable absence in the family they leave behind.