Waterford - Lt. Col. Merico L. Catallo, a retired Marine Corps officer, died Saturday at Samuel S. Stratton Veterans Medical Center Hospital in Albany.

Lt. Col. Catallo, 77 of Fonda Road, was born & educated in Waterford.

He served with the Marine Corps from 1939 to 1969. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theatre and was cited by Gen. Roy S. Geiger for meritorious & efficient performance as a platoon commander on Okinawa, Shima & Ryukyu islands. He participated in the ceremony at the surrender of Japanese military forces in the area of Tsingtao, China, on Oct. 25, 1945. After the Korean War, he was cited by Korean President Syngman Rhee for outstanding & superior performance of duty & received the Presidential Unit Citation. He was aslo cited by the secretary of the Navy for the exceptionally Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Waterford Memorial Post 5800, the American Legion Mohawk Post 1450 in Halfmoon, a member and past commander of the Italian American War Veterans in Waterford. He was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus in the Washington, D.C., Assembly and a third-degree Kinght of Columbus in Washington, D.C. He was a former member of the town of Waterford Water Commissioners. He was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Waterford.

Survivors include his wife, Ruby Willis Catallo; a son, Joseph L. Catallo of Waterford; two daughters Regina "Gina" Boulerice and Vonnie L. Beadle both of Waterford; four brothers, Anthony J. Catallo, David A. Catallo & Walter C. Catallo all of Waterford and Edward Catallo of Valley Center, Calif.; two sisters, Lena E. Decker of Clifton Park and Anne B. Gabriel of Waterford and five grandchildren.

Services with full military honors will be held at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in the Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home, 133 Broad St., and 9:30 a.m. in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, corner of Broad & Sixth Streets, Waterford, NY.

Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Calling hours will be 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.