He attended Vaughn Barber School of Hartford, CT in 1965 and spent twelve years employed by the Commonwealth of MA as a Barber at the former Gardner State Hospital.

He was previously employed by Heywood Wakefield Company of Gardner for sixteen years, and L.Z. Kamman Company, Inc. of Gardner.

Ernie was a member of Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner.