Former Selectman Al Merritt Died Wednesday
Early this year, colleagues voted to name future community space at MarketStreet after popular former selectman.
Former Lynnfield Selectman Al Merritt died on Wednesday, March 20th, this website has learned.
Merritt stepped down from the board of selectmen at the beginning of 2013 to focus on his battle against cancer.
Before doing so, he sat down with local media outlets for an interview where he looked back on his years of service to the town of Lynnfield.
In that interview, Merritt recalled how he had moved to Lynnfield in 1974 with his wife of 41 years, Beverly. They raised five children together with 11 grandchildren.
As a selectman, Merritt was first elected in 2008 and still had one year left on his second term when he left office. Merritt was a former finance committee member and chaired the town's school building committee in 2001 and its economic development and housing advisory committee in 2005. He was also chairman of Lynnfield's Republican Town Committee up until the beginning of this year.
Merritt was particularly proud of his work in getting the town's new schools built about a decade ago - and a framed replica of the $41 million check provided by the state for that project hangs in the selectman's room at town hall to this day. He also played a key role in helping the town resolve some of its affordable housing issues some years ago.
In the private sector, Merritt had a 30-plus year career in finance and management that included time as chief operating officer of Liberty Financial Companies.
During his interview in January, Merritt urged other civic-minded town residents to get involved with the town's various boards and organizations, noting that his own involvement had started largely because a couple of available projects just happened to be well suited to him. "I just see this as neighborly work," he said back then.
In honor of Merritt's service to the town, his colleagues on the Lynnfield Board of Selectmen, Bob MacKendrick and Dave Nelson, announced early this year that the future community space at the MarketStreet Lynnfield development would bear his name - The Al Merritt Media and Cultural Center.
"We're all in this together. We're all just neighbors in a sense," Merritt told local media back in January.
An obituary and service information will be posted on this website when they become available.
Ellen Crawford
11:14 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
I will miss you my friend.
Ellen Crawford
Bob Priestley
7:38 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Lynnfield lost a great man today that will be missed by all, God-speed friend.
Paula A. Parziale
7:49 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
What a great and gentle man. God bless my friend Al.
Joyce Cavanaugh
8:48 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
His generosity and loyalty to the town and church should be an example to all of us. Many thanks and appreciation from all of us.
roberta nelson
10:19 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Thank you for your community service and rest in peace.
Roberta Nelson..................Townscape
Lauri Priestley
11:14 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
It is a sad day in our little town. We have lost a beloved member of the community, a man who truly believed in "Service above Self". God bless you Mr. Al Merritt.
Linda Rugato
11:22 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Al will be greatly missed. He has done so much for our community. For those of you who didn't have the pleasure of knowing him, he was a gentle, loving and caring person. God bless him and his family.
Arthur Bourque
12:40 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Lynnfield lost a great member of our community on Wednesday. His service to Lynnfield was exemplary and his integrity was beyond reproach. In this age of selve serving elected officials, Al exemplified all that our original founders had intended in his selfless dedication to the Town of Lynnfield and so many other charitable causes. He personified the true meaning of volunteer, citizen, and good neighbor. He was comprehensive in his approach to every issue and you could always count on him for a full understanding and sage advice. He was a friend to all that knew him and you could have no better friend than Al. Rest in peace my friend.
Peter Brady
1:56 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
I'm so sorry to hear of Al's passing - such terribly sad news. Always a gentleman, our little town benefitted greatly from his selfless service and integrity.
Andrea Bingham
3:24 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
We will miss you Al. A good neighbor of ours who always took the time to stop and say hello when we were outside. There will be a void on Glen Drive without Al.
So so sad.
Andrea Bingham & Stephen Gondert
Joseph Markey
2:03 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Al was a very good man - he'll be missed! His passion for serving this town will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Al.
John Philip Sousa, IV
10:12 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
I just learned this morning of Al's death. Al was a dear friend for many years who taught me a great deal. While I haven't seen or talked to Al for over a decade his loss is very sad. My prayers are with family and friends who, like me, will miss a wonderful guy....