Ernest H. Groth

Ernest H. Groth, 88, of Killingworth, CT, formerly of New Britain and Newington CT, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016.  He was the husband of the late Jean (Brown) Groth and the late Marilyn (Uhlig Skipton) Groth.

Born in New Britain, he was the son of the late Henry William and Helena Doerr Groth.  Surviving are two daughters, Marlene C. Dolan and her husband Mark Christopher Dolan of Manchester, MA, and Janet L. Groth and her husband James P. Turner, also of Manchester, MA; a son, Stephen J. Groth of Viroqua, WI and his significant other, Patty Michael; two step-daughters, Beth Marie Skipton and Allison Long;  a sister, Barbara Gilbert and her husband Chandler of Jaffrey, NH; and three grandchildren, Helena S. Turner, E. Patrick Turner, and Elizabeth Bennett Dolan; and two step-grandchildren, Taylor Ryan and Lyndsay Gerrity Dolan.

Ernest attended The Mount Herman School and Wesleyan College where he graduated with a BA in Economics in 1949.  In 1949, he joined Spring Brook Ice & Fuel, a business that was started by his grandfather in 1915.  The business began as an ice cutting business where ice was cut on 3 ponds and delivered by horse and cart to family homes.  Ernest founded Spring Brook Vending Service, an ice distribution company selling ice in the metropolitan Hartford market in 1954, which he ran concurrently for twenty five years.  He joined Southern New England Ice and Oil, a division of Connohio in 1973 as Operations Manager, with the assignment to modernize manufacturing and distribution plants located in Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury.  He subsequently was promoted to Vice-President and General Manager before returning to Spring Brook when he became owner and President.

Service above self was his core belief and how he lived his life:   Ernest served as Chairman of the Board of the National Ice Association 1979-80; President of the New Britain Area Conference of Churches; Member of the Masonic Lodge; Church of Christ Congregational, Board of Trustees, Newington, CT; President of the New Britain Fuel Oil Dealers Association; New Britain Chamber of Commerce; President of the New England Packaged Ice Association; Long time member and President of Rotary International and District Governor Representative. In 1985 he was instrumental in successfully promoting the admittance of women into Rotary International.

He was a life-long outdoors person who taught his children the joys and wonder of the great outdoors. He was a member of the Nation Ski Patrol and past patroller for 32 years at Southington Mountain in Connecticut, retiring at the age of 75.  He brought his family on many wonderful trips throughout New England and the Western U.S., where they skied, hiked and camped.  He bought his boyhood overnight camp in Breman, Maine, and summered there for many happy years, entertaining friends and family from near and far.  The pursuits of his grandchildren are a testament to his legacy.  He will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 AM at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 295 Arch St., New Britain, CT.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, New Britain.   Calling hours are Friday from 4-6 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 So. Main St., New Britain, CT.  In lieu of flowers, we ask that you spend time with and hug the people you love, particularly your elders.