Ernest T. Taillacq

Waltham – Mr. Ernest T. ‘Ernie’ Taillacq of Waltham died Monday, March 22, 2004 at his home after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was 81. Born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, a son of the late Emilio and Manuela (Caballer) Taillacq, he lived in Lincoln before moving to Waltham in 1950. Until his retirement in 1984, he worked as a master lithographer for Rust Craft Greeting Cards and G.K. Hall Publishers of Boston. He was a member of the Graphic Arts Union and he was also an avid walker. During World War II he served with the U.S. Army’s 1st Division, the ‘Big Red One’. He saw action in several campaigns beginning with the North African Campaign in Morocco, Algiers and Tunisia; the invasion of Sicily, the D-Day landing on June 6, 1944 at Omaha Beach and the following battle for Normandy, the Northern France Campaign, the Battle of the Bulge, the Ardennes Campaign in Belgium, the Rhineland, the Germany Campaign and the Central Europe Campaign encompassing Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. He was awarded two Bronze Stars for bravery, the Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Silver Service Star with Bronze Arrowhead, Good Conduct Medal, Honorable Service Pin, Marksman Badge, Overseas Ribbon, Belgian Fourragere, Army Occupation Medal with German Clasp and the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal. He leaves his wife of 54 years, Laura E. (Sangermano) Taillacq, one daughter, Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Taillacq of Waltham, one brother and one sister, Evelio Taillacq and Elsa Taillacq, both of Cuba and several nieces and nephews. He was also the father of the late Ernest Taillacq, Jr. and brother of the late Emilio ‘Henry’ Taillacq of Newton. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in Saint Paul Evangelical Church, 451 Lowell Street, Lexington. Burial will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Visiting hours are Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham. Memorial donations may be made to St. Elizabeth Medical Center Hematology Oncology Division or to the Pulmonary Division, 736 Cambridge Street, Brighton, MA 02135 or to Caritas Good Samaritan Hospice, 310 Allston Street, Brighton, MA 02135.