With
heavy hearts we announce that Ernest Michael Minetti, age 70, passed
away peacefully in the early morning hours of June 18, 2025. He was
surrounded by his wife, Lynn, and family leading up to the end of his
two-year battle with cancer.
Ernie
was born in Summit, N.J., to Ernest Sr. and Digna Minetti. He spent
his early years in Deland, Fla., and Madison, N.J., before moving to
Vermont in his early twenties. Ernie loved to chat and tell stories
and made friends wherever he went. He was a lifelong music lover. He
spent much of his free time attending concerts and prided himself on
seeing all of his favorite bands. He was a self-taught musician who
learned to play multiple instruments, including guitar, mandolin,
bass, banjo and harmonica. He played in bands throughout his life and
loved performing in front of audiences both big and small.
Ernie
lived by the motto, “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.”
He dove 100 percent into every hobby. He was a gardener, home brewer,
barbecue smoker, comic book lover, musician, reader, record collector
and fly fisherman. His superpower was his ability to learn, and he
was constantly researching and learning something new.
Ernie’s
greatest joy was his family. He leaves behind his best friend and
wife of 44 years, Lynn; his children, Sara Sanborn (Jeremy), Nathan
Minetti (Olaitan) and Eric Minetti (Brooke); grandchildren, Jaden
Sanborn (Olivia), Katherine Sanborn, Ryan Sanborn, Nora Minetti, Ivy
Minetti and Thelonious Minetti; great-grandchildren, Wesley Sanborn,
Everett Sanborn and Lukas Sanborn; sister, Dolores Edinger (Dale);
in-laws, Jim Woods (Shelly), John Woods (Patricia) and Lisa Lamell
(Dale); and several nieces and nephews. In keeping with Ernie’s
wishes, there will be no funeral. A private memorial service and
scattering of ashes in the Atlantic Ocean will be held this summer.