Obituary: Charles Allen Merritt Jr., 72

The following obituary appears at this link on Legacy.com.

MERRITT, Charles Allen, Jr. A retired finance and insurance executive, and Lynnfield Selectman, died peacefully on March 20, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. He was 72 years old. Mr. Merritt was the son of the late Charles and Kathryn (Fox) Merritt of Virginia.

He leaves his wife of 41 years, Beverly (Fiumara), his five children, Charles and his wife Lorianne of Tennessee, Mark and his wife Jayne of Virginia, Kevin and his wife Elizabeth of Connecticut, Brian and his wife Ingri of New York, and Julie of MA, and his eleven grandchildren: Mark, Kevin, Charles, Jack, Emily, William, Kaitlyn, Theodore, Kayla, Georgia, and Virginia. He also leaves his sisters: Cecilia Bailey of Virginia, Kathleen Rafferty and Patricia Wyatt of Florida, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Mr. Merritt was President of Investors Mortgage Insurance Company before becoming Chief Financial Officer of Liberty Financial Companies until his retirement in 2001. He served as a member of the Georgetown University Boards of Regents, Governors and McDonough School of Business. Al served as Chairman of the Board of St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Merritt also served as a member of the Advisory Board of Emmanuel College, and Finance Board of St. Maria Goretti Church. While a pitcher at St. John's, the Washington Post selected him as the All-Metro High School Player of the Year. He was then awarded a four year baseball scholarship to Georgetown University.

In 1963, Al earned the medal for highest proficiency on the CPA exam from the State of Virginia. He then became a fellow of the District of Columbia Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

In later years, Mr. Merritt spearheaded efforts to re-build Lynnfield's public schools, and as Selectman, ushered in the town's new multi-million dollar "Market Street" retail/residential development.

Visiting hours at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., MEDFORD, on Tuesday, March 26, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Family and friends are kindly invited. A funeral Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Maria Goretti Church, 112 Chestnut St., Lynnfield, on Wednesday, March 27, at 11 am. Interment at Forest Hill Cemetery, Forest Hill Avenue, Lynnfield.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Al's memory to the St. Maria Goretti Church Sanctuary Memorial Fund. For directions & online guestbook, please visit: www.dellorusso.net Dello Russo Family Funeral Homes 781-396-9200 Medford-Woburn-Wilmington.