Ernest Prado

Ernest A. Prado, Ernie to all his friends and family died this morning from heart disease; he was 64 years old. His life was a great adventure, from his High School days as an honor student and track star, to his career as an Engineer in the Merchant Marine where he circumnavigated the earth many times, visiting every continent. Ernie made friends wherever he traveled. Having to retire early from the Trans-Ocean Merchant Marine due to kidney disease, Ernie still holds the Ohio record for the person living the longest on a dialysis machine - 15 years, before his first donor kidney transplant. Incredibly, he could still work on the Great Lakes as an engineer on maritime vessels returning to the Toledo Port daily for much of this time. After his first kidney transplant, Ernie returned to the maritime industry to become a 1st engineer on Hawaiian Island Tour vessels. Eventually, Ernie retired completely from the Merchant Marine and went on to become a full-time college student at the University of Toledo, earning several degrees. He returned to work full time for General Motors as a professional engineer. A terrific athlete, despite his illnesses, Ernie traveled the world competing and winning many gold medals in the International Transplant Olympics for cycling and swimming. At age 61, Ernie developed cancer; unbelievably the cancer was confined to the kidney that had been transplanted in him years ago. After having the diseased kidney removed, Ernie went back onto the dialysis machine for one year after which he was tested to make sure he was cancer free. He then received his second donor kidney transplant as extraordinary gift of life from one of his wifes co-worker. Ernie leaves his wife of 26 years, Lisa Prado of Maumee, OH; his daughter Marlo Dont know last name of Frederick, MD, and his brother Philip Prado of Raleigh, NC