Nathaniel C. Merritt-Mervine

Nate was born on March 6, 1978, in Rochester to Donna Biro and the late Robert Paul Merritt. A geriatric social worker for Jewish Family Service of Rochester, he was a graduate of Nazareth College, Villa Maria College, and Williamsville North High School where he met his wife and best friend, Leah Merritt-Mervine—starting a love for the ages. After spending over a decade together pursuing higher education and careers, the pair were married on July 6, 2008, in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Shortly after marriage, Nate, an avid runner, developed foot pain that was ultimately discovered to be a rare cancer; chondrosarcoma. Despite the devastating diagnosis, surgeries, amputation, and treatments that followed, Nate persevered for years, and he and Leah continued to live a beautiful life, exploring the outdoors, Jeeping in his beloved Wrangler "Big Bertha," traveling extensively, and enjoying weekly supper with his loving grandparents Gerta and Donald Carpenter.

Nate's loss leaves an immeasurable void in the hearts of his family members including his wife, mother, grandparents; aunts and uncles, Andra and Eric Farley and Jane Lynn Merritt and Ralph Caruso; his parents-in-law, Barbara and Lawrence Mervine; and his brothers and sisters in-law, Rachel and Richard Adelstein, Rebecca Mervine and Matthew Hogan, and Sarah Mervine and Mark Schiff. In addition to his father with whom Nate was very close, sharing a deep love of music, cinema, and books, Nate was predeceased by grandparents, Marjorie and Thomas Merritt.

Nathaniel loved spending time with and adored his talented nieces and nephews: Melanie and Jacob Adelstein, Hannah, Sophie, and Olivia Mervine-Schiff, and Sean Hogan. Nate is also survived by his band mates in From Astral Planes, his friends, Jewish Family Service and EISEP (Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly) co-workers, and his ever-present companion, his adored dog, Ruby. Nate's kindness, humor, and generosity will continue in the lives of so many people he touched through his life and his work.

A celebration of Nate's life will take place at the Interfaith Chapel at the University of Rochester River Campus on Wilson Boulevard on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.

Private interment at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nate's name may be made to The Leah and Nathaniel Merritt-Mervine Tikkun Olam Fund c/o The Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, 441 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of BERKOWITZ-KUMIN-BOOKATZ MEMORIAL CHAPEL (800) 448-2210