George Merrill

STOCKBRIDGE -- Dr. George Grenville Merrill, 96, of Monkton, Md., died Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Keswick Multi-Care Center in North Baltimore, Md., where he had lived for the past several years.

He was formerly of Stockbridge.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y. on Aug. 3, 1909, son of the Rev. George Grenville. and Pauline Dresser Merrill, he moved to Stockbridge shortly after his birth when his father became rector of St. Paul's Church.

The family lived on Yale Hill.

He attended local elementary schools and graduated in 1927 from St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H.

Subsequently he earned a degree in biology from Princeton University, a medical degree from Harvard, a master's in education from Loyola College, a master's in theology from St. Mary's Seminary and a doctorate in psychology from Columbia University. In 1990, Loyola College awarded him an honorary doctorate in education.

Dr. Merrill practiced psychiatry and neurology for many years in the Baltimore area.

Following his ordination as an Episcopal minister in 1950, he was appointed as assistant pastor at a number of churches throughout central Maryland, while continuing his medical practice.

He performed military research in poison-gas warfare for the U.S. Office of Scientific Research from 1942 to 1945.

He taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Loyola College and St. Mary's Seminary. He retired in 1985.

He and his first wife, the former Anne Totten of Baltimore, were married in 1939. They were divorced in 1968. He and his second wife, the former Sara Parry, were married in 1973.

Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Susan Sprague of Stockbridge, Margery Cuyler of Dennis, and Pepperrell Crofoot of Eugaria, Portugal, and four sons, the Rev. George Bayard Merrill of Baltimore, Michael Merrill of Leicester, N.C., John Merrill of Catonsville, Md., and Thomas Merrill of Kingsville, Md.