Edward R. Merrick
OBITUARY
“A kind heart, a gentle soul, and a life well lived. ”
Edward R. Merrick, 89, of Saint Petersburg, Florida, died June 29 at St. Anthony’s hospital in that city.
He was born in Freeland, Pennsylvania on September 29, 1936 to Helen M. (nee Remak) and Anthony J. Merrick.
He graduated as valedictorian in 1954 from Mining and Mechanical Institute, now the MMI Preparatory School, in Freeland, and with high honors and special honors in English in 1959 from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, where he was named to Phi Beta Kappa, national honor society.
He worked as a reporter-photographer for the Hazleton Standard-Speaker from 1959 to 1969, with a two-year hiatus for service in the U.S. Army, and as an editor for 32 years for the Saint Petersburg Times, now the Tampa Bay Times.
He was a member of Saint Casimirs R.C. Church. Freeland, and of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Saint Petersburg.
He loved family time, reading, writing, opera, and mountain hiking in North America and Europe and collected vintage metal toys and World War I Liberty Bond posters.
He is survived by a niece, Cynthia Lazaro, a nephew, Thomas J. Merrick (wife Julia), a great-niece, Danielle Lazaro, a great-nephew, Steven Lazaro, a granddaughter, Molly J. McAliley; and two great-grandsons. A brother, Thomas A. Merrick, died in 2006, and a sister, Helen Merrick, died in 2025.
His father owned and operated a store-on-wheels and a grocery store in Freeland.
Burial will be in the family plot in Saint Casimir’s Cemetery, Freeland, by McNulty Funeral Home.
Gulf to Bay Cremation, Clearwater, had charge of arrangements.
Edward R. Merrick
June 29, 2026