Huntington’s Jerome Merkerson Remembered Fondly
The Huntington School District continues to mourn the loss of Woodhull Intermediate School security guard Jerome Merkerson, who passed away suddenly at home last weekend. Huntington School Board members observed a moment of silence before a public meeting of the trustees this past Monday night.
Well-known throughout the community as a lacrosse coach, Mr. Merkerson compiled a 65-3 record while coaching teams at Finley Middle School and Huntington High School. He also coached on the club level and tutored individual players.
“Merk wore a perennial smile and had a kind word for everyone,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “He was universally well liked and respected by students and colleagues. His presence will be sorely missed.”
Mr. Merkerson grew up on a Melville sod farm. A 1978 graduate of Half Hollow Hills High School (there was no East and West at the time), he enjoyed a breakout year as a junior on the lacrosse field scoring 63 goals as a crease attackman. He was named Suffolk All-County as a junior and senior and was offered a full scholarship to play at Adelphi College, but opted to enter the printing trade.
A summer travel team coach for many years, Mr. Merkerson’s squads were always successful. One such team, which was comprised of players mainly drawn from Huntington and Walt Whitman high schools won the Sweet Lax tournament championship in a New Jersey. The roster included future NCAA All-Americans Nick Saputo and Miles Jones and junior college All-American Calvin Bollar.
Mr. Merkerson was known for keeping the cost of his travel teams to a minimum. Uniforms frequently consisted of pinnies, but players and parents loved every minute of it.
Visitation is set for Tuesday, September 8 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at M.A. Connell Funeral Home in Huntington Station. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. at MA Connell Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Huntington Rural Cemetery on New York Avenue.