Mr. Ernie Eric Sapiens

To Ernie Eric Sapiens, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Ernie, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Ernie really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.      Ernie was born on October 7, 1972 at Valley Medical Hospital in San Jose, California. His parents were Ernie and Emma Sapiens. Ernie was raised in San Jose, California. Even as a child, Ernie had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.      Always a good playmate, Ernie was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Ernie managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Ernie was raised with two siblings. He had a younger sister, Armida, and a younger brother, Matthew.      All of Ernie's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Ernie experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in football and basketball. In his spare time he liked collecting football cards.      Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Ernie was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Ernie simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Ernie, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Ernie's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Ernie graduated from W.C. Overfelt High in 1990. He was a great football and basketball player, and was also the yearbook editor. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was U.S. History and Yearbook. He shared the class with his wife, Grace. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was coach Figueroa.       Ernie never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Ernie to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Ernie delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Ernie was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Ernie utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Martin (Tiny), Keith Williams, and Jose DeLeon. Later in life, he became friends with Jose DeLeon, Blaine McFarland, Javier Moreno, and Ray Marquez. Ernie loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Ernie very easy to approach. On November 24, 2000 Ernie exchanged wedding vows with Grace Marie Barajas at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.      Ernie enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Ernie liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were listening to music, snowboarding, traveling, rafting, hiking, playing basketball, golfing, and relaxing and "tanning" at the beach. Ernie was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.      Ernie felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Ernie loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Ernie relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Ernie never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Ernie played football and basketball. In his college years, Ernie continued to stay active by playing basketball. Recreational sports included basketball, golfing, bike riding, and snowboarding "in Lake Tahoe". Ernie was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were professional and college football.      Ernie had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Ernie's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. In high school, Ernie was a member of the yearbook staff.       Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Ernie recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of a youth group for 2 years. During that time, he was participating in religious retreats.      Naturally outgoing and generous, Ernie was regularly doing things for others. For him, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Ernie was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. One of his most prestigious awards included the Journey Man promotion.      Living life in the fast lane suited Ernie just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included a 7 day cruise in the Bahamas, followed by 7 days at Disneyworld.      Ernie was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Ernie's favorites was J.C., a Boxer. They were best friends for 10 1/2 years. His family was rounded out by his other dog, Blue, a Mastiff.      Ernie passed away on January 10, 2010 at Regional Medical Center in San Jose, California. Ernie fought a long and brave battle against Diabetic Gastroparesis. He is survived by his wife, Grace; his dog, Blue (dog); his parents, Ernie and Emma Sapiens; his sister and brother, Armida and Matt; his grandparents, Abel and Cruz; and his many aunts, uncles, in-laws, and godchildren. Services were held at Most Holy Trinity Church in San Jose, California. Ernie's ashes will be spreaded in Jamaica.      Ernie brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Ernie Eric Sapiens lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.