Frank H. Merry, Marauder Man, 322 Bomber Group, 451st Squadron.

Frank H. Merry - entered eternal rest on June 3, 2006. He was born on August 15, 1919 in Greenwich, CT. He attended St. Mary's Parochial Grammar School and graduated from Greenwich High School in 1938.

Frank joined the Army Air Corp. in 1942 serving as Radio Operator/Side Gunner in the B-26 Martin Marauder, flying a record 63 missions with the 322 Bomber Group, 451st Squadron out of England, France and Belgium. He received many recognitions and citations including the Air Medal in 1944. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of Technical Sergeant, returning home to marry his sweetheart, Mary E. Tierney. They were happily married on November 24, 1945 and remained so for almost 49 years, until Mary's death.

A graduate of the RCA Institute, Frank joined Remington Rand Corp. in 1949. He moved to CBS Technology Center in 1956. Frank served as Supervisor of Test Equipment and Calibration Services, working on projects including the Surveyor 1 and 11, the Apollo Mission's Mini Video Camera, Laser Disc Recording and Digital Photography. He retired in 1985. He continued working part-time for St. Joseph's Hospital in Stamford, maintaining and calibrating their medical test equipment. A man of faith, Frank was a lifelong parishioner of St. Mary's R.C. Church in Stamford, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a charter member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society.

He was pre-deceased by his parents Ezekiel and Margaret Stephenson Merry, and his three brothers Harold Merry, Charles E. Merry and John Merry. He rejoins with them, his wife Mary (d.1994) and daughter Maureen E. Januski (d. 2000), but leaves behind his three sons, Reverend Paul F. Merry of Bridgeport, CT, Richard F. Merry, his wife Lucille of Poughkeepsie, NY, Brian F. Merry, his wife Peggy of Monroe, CT, and his beloved daughter Barbara A. Merry of Stamford, CT, who cared for him until the end. He also leaves behind two constant friends and sisters-in-law Rose Tierney and Anne Merry, brother in-law, Michael F. Tierney, his wife Jean and their entire family. Frank was most proud of his grandchildren, Meghan Curran Merry, Katherine, Richard, Elizabeth Merry, Christopher Januski and Laura Halpern, Shannon Merry Nowotny, John and Matthew Merry and his great grandchildren Finnian Patrick and Aiden Grey Nowotny, his nephew Michael C. Merry of Denver, CO and nieces, Patricia Nicosia of Trumbull, CT, Anne Merry and Jane Repik of Greenwich, CT.

Together with his extended family and countless friends and acquaintances, they will all dearly miss "Frankie" and remember him always.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's R.C. Church Stamford, CT or Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, Bridgeport, CT.

Friends may call at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home 2900 Summer St. in Stamford on Wednesday, June 7th from 4-8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary's Church in Stamford on Thursday, June 8th at 11 am with interment to follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Greenwich.

Published in the GreenwichTime from 6/5/2006 - 6/6/2006.