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George Harrison Merritt

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George Harrison Merritt Veteran

Birth
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA
Death
1 Aug 2018 (aged 96)
Burial
West Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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George "Bud" Harrison Merritt, 96, of Naples, Fla. and Old Lyme, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018.
George was born in Pittsfield, Mass., on Dec. 6, 1921, son of Ethel (Martin) Merritt and Laurence Hobart Merritt.

He graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1939 and Holy Cross College, Class of 1943, with a bachelor's degree in economics. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a lieutenant from 1943 to 1945. He chose a career in advertising, marketing and public relations. He worked with American Optical Co. and Travelers Insurance Co. before accepting a position with Milton Bradley Co. (Hasbro) where he worked from 1966 until his retirement in 1992 as vice president of advertising and public relations.

He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, and served as a lector both at St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford and St. William Church in Naples, Fla. In 2011, George began his volunteer work with Avow Hospice, providing marketing support for their fundraising efforts, care and compassion for end-of-life patients, and administering communion as a eucharistic minister to their families. In 2013, George was the recipient of Avow's coveted "Butterfly Award" – which honors "a person who has taken the personal loss of losing a loved one and channeled that loss into making end-of-life care better for others."

In 1945, George married Marion F. Loftus with whom he raised ten children. They made their home in West Hartford for 33 years before retiring to the Vineyards in Naples, Fla. in 1992. They spent their summers at their home in Old Lyme which they bought in 1968.

George was predeceased by his wife, Marion, in 2008.
He was also predeceased by his oldest son, Andrew, in 1984; and his grandson, Paul Rowean Jr., in 1985.

George is survived by nine children: Kathy Amenta; Connie Merritt and her husband, Greg Fitzgerald; Judy Rowean and her husband, Paul; Jean Linderman and her husband, John; Polly Maglio and her husband, Gary; Larry Merritt and his partner, Michael McLaughlin; Chip Merritt and his wife, Luanne; Martin Merritt; and Matthew Merritt and his wife, Jennifer. He also leaves 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Molloy Funeral Home, West Hartford, handled arrangements.
Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial were held at St. Peter Claver Church, West Hartford.
Burial with military honors followed in Fairview Cemetery.
Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Day on Aug. 3, 2018.
George "Bud" Harrison Merritt, 96, of Naples, Fla. and Old Lyme, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018.
George was born in Pittsfield, Mass., on Dec. 6, 1921, son of Ethel (Martin) Merritt and Laurence Hobart Merritt.

He graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1939 and Holy Cross College, Class of 1943, with a bachelor's degree in economics. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a lieutenant from 1943 to 1945. He chose a career in advertising, marketing and public relations. He worked with American Optical Co. and Travelers Insurance Co. before accepting a position with Milton Bradley Co. (Hasbro) where he worked from 1966 until his retirement in 1992 as vice president of advertising and public relations.

He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, and served as a lector both at St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford and St. William Church in Naples, Fla. In 2011, George began his volunteer work with Avow Hospice, providing marketing support for their fundraising efforts, care and compassion for end-of-life patients, and administering communion as a eucharistic minister to their families. In 2013, George was the recipient of Avow's coveted "Butterfly Award" – which honors "a person who has taken the personal loss of losing a loved one and channeled that loss into making end-of-life care better for others."

In 1945, George married Marion F. Loftus with whom he raised ten children. They made their home in West Hartford for 33 years before retiring to the Vineyards in Naples, Fla. in 1992. They spent their summers at their home in Old Lyme which they bought in 1968.

George was predeceased by his wife, Marion, in 2008.
He was also predeceased by his oldest son, Andrew, in 1984; and his grandson, Paul Rowean Jr., in 1985.

George is survived by nine children: Kathy Amenta; Connie Merritt and her husband, Greg Fitzgerald; Judy Rowean and her husband, Paul; Jean Linderman and her husband, John; Polly Maglio and her husband, Gary; Larry Merritt and his partner, Michael McLaughlin; Chip Merritt and his wife, Luanne; Martin Merritt; and Matthew Merritt and his wife, Jennifer. He also leaves 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Molloy Funeral Home, West Hartford, handled arrangements.
Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial were held at St. Peter Claver Church, West Hartford.
Burial with military honors followed in Fairview Cemetery.
Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com.

Published in The Day on Aug. 3, 2018.


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