Ernest F. Tresselt

Ernest F. Tresselt, 79, lifelong resident of Thurmont, died Thursday, March 15, 2007 at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Born on May 7, 1927, he was the son of the late Frederick and Helen Caroline Hayford Tresselt.

He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Mary Jane Adams Tresselt; a daughter, Drusilla Tresselt; son-in-law, Raymond Klinger; a son, John Frederick Tresselt and wife Betsy; two sisters, Emily Schmidt and Dorothy Victor, both living in California. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann Dotson and Helen Caroline Boward.

There are six grandchildren: Ian Frederick Tresselt, Matthew Frederick Klinger, Ryan Michael Klinger, Jesse Elizabeth Finnafrock, Grant Connor Tresselt, and Sarah Grace Tresselt.

Ernie lived most of his life in Thurmont where he graduated from Thurmont High School in 1944. Following graduation from high school he enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He was sent to radio operator school in Philadelphia, where he met his wife to be, Mary Jane Adams. On completion of his radio operator's course he was sent to San Francisco where he joined the crew of the USS Mount McKinley. The Mount McKinley was the flagship of the Bikini Atom bomb tests named Operation Crossroads held at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in 1946.

He was discharged from the Marine Corps in October of 1946. He enrolled at the College of William & Mary in February 1946. He and Jane married on June 7th, 1947. He started working part time for the Virginia Fisheries Laboratory, affiliated with the College. In 1949 he received a BS degree in Aquatic Biology and in 1950 was awarded an MA degree in Aquatic Biology from the College of William & Mary.

Ernie returned to Thurmont to help operate the family fish farm, Hunting Creek Fisheries, which his Father and Mother started in 1924. During his career developing the fish farm he became interested in Aquaculture on the state and national level. He was appointed Chairman of Maryland's Aquaculture Advisory Committee in the 1980's. He was active in the National Aquaculture Association where he served on the board of directors. In 1997 he was named Outstanding Aquaculturist by the NAA.

Also while in Thurmont he was a former member of the Thurmont Lions Club, and a lifetime member of the Thurmont American Legion Post 168.

Visitation: The family will receive friends on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 until 9 PM at the Stauffer Funeral Home 104 East Main Street, Thurmont.

Services: Funeral services will be held at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 15 North Church St, Thurmont, Md, on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 1:30 PM officiated by Rev. Frederick W. Simmel. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 15 North Church Street, Thurmont, MD 21788, or to the charity of one's choice