GLOUCESTER: Ernest A. Tarr, 86, died Saturday, May 19, 2012 in the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington following a brief illness.
Born in Gloucester on March 13, 1926, he was the son of the late Harold C. and Marjorie F. (Garron) Tarr. A lifelong resident of Gloucester, he was a graduate of Gloucester High School, where he played trombone in the high school dance band and later played in the Legion band.
Ernie was a skilled boat builder. He worked for many years at the Montgomery Boatyard on Ferry Street in Gloucester. He later built small sailing and rowing boats in his own garage. Through the years, he also scratch-built many scale models of boats. The models sold privately and in several galleries in Rockport and Gloucester. A few models were commissioned by The American Marine Model Gallery, formerly of Salem. He was also a long-time member of the Cape Ann Ship Modelers Guild. Ernie also had a love of gardening. In his early days he maintained a beautiful iris garden and was always pleased to have people come to enjoy them and all of the other lovely flowers throughout his yard. He had planted snapdragons just a few days before he was hospitalized.
He is survived by several cousins, including, Professor Edward H. Tarr of Rheinfelden, Germany and Norma Perussi of Bethel, CT.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday in the Beechbrook Cemetery, Essex Ave., W. Gloucester at 10 a.m. At his request, there are no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Essex Shipbuilders Museum, 66 Main St., Essex, MA 01929. Arrangements are under the direction of the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle St., Gloucester.