Dr. Harry Winston Mergler

FUNERAL HOME

Jenkins Funeral Chapel, Inc. - Westlake

2914 Dover Center Road

Westlake, Ohio

Harry Mergler Obituary

Name: Visitation for Dr. Harry Winston Mergler
Start: 2017-10-14T14:00:00.000Z
End: 2017-10-14T15:00:00.000Z
Location: Bethany English Lutheran Church

Dr. Harry Winston Mergler

WESTLAKE: Dr. Harry Winston Mergler, age 93, died at his home in Westlake, Ohio on September 15, 2017. Born in Chillicothe, Ohio and son of teachers Harry Franklin Mergler and Letitia Walburn Mergler, he graduated from West Technical High School in Cleveland in 1942. He received a full scholarship to M.I.T, where he enlisted in the Army Air Force Reserve. There, he flew with the 75th Division, ending the war on a research team at the Frankford Arsenal.

After the war, Dr. Mergler finished his degrees at Case Institute of Technology and then worked as a researcher at NACA, designing its first large scale analog computer facility. There, he also made the first documented coupling of a remote machine tool to a computer, completing his Ph.D. 1956. He then joined the engineering faculty at Case where he established the Digital Systems Laboratory and was later awarded Case's Gold Medal. As the Leonard Case Professor of Engineering, he advised 141 M.S. and 52 Ph.D. students and retired in 1989.

Dr. Mergler founded the Digital-General Corporation, was a consultant to government and industry, a registered professional engineer, and naval architect. He held 24 domestic and international patents.

Dr. Mergler was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and was elected a Fellow in the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), receiving its Lamme Medal, Centennial Medal and Third Millennium Medal. In 2006, IEEE also awarded him the international rank of Eminent Member "whose engineering career resulted in significant benefits to humankind."

Dr. Mergler's wife of 48 years, Irmgard (née Steudel), died in 1994. He is survived by his children: Myra A. L. Niemeier (Paul) of Reston, VA; Marcia M. Davis (Clark) of Stamford, CT; Harry F. Mergler of Rochester, NY; and grandchildren: Katherine E. Davis, Andrew W. Davis and Nils P. Niemeier.

Memorial Service: Bethany English Lutheran Church, 15460 Triskett Rd., Cleveland, OH: 11 AM, October 14, 2017. Reception: 10 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to: Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Claire Ave., Cleveland OH, 44110 or Bethany English Lutheran Church, 15460 Triskett Road, Cleveland, OH 44111.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chillicothe Gazette on Oct. 8, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Harry Mergler

Sponsored by Jenkins Funeral Chapel, Inc. - Westlake.

8 Entries

yahia

April 26, 2025

I WA HIS MASTER'S STUDENT IN 1976

Dick Van Pelt

July 22, 2022

I was a graduate student of Doctor Mergler at Case in the early sixties. He and the other staff there were inspirational in the development of computers. I still have a memory card the size of my hand that is an experimental one bit up-down counter. His combination of theory, practice and kindness was unmatched. He and some of the other Case faculty gave me a great launch for a career at IBM and Storage Tech, as well as amusement sailing.

Ammar Darkazanli

August 6, 2019

Professor Mergler played a crucial part in my life. I arrived to the US with barely speaking English. He took me under his wings and offered me all the support through college and beyond. He shared his wisdom and knowledge through out the years. I was sitting this evening in Dubravnik, Croatia when he came to mind. I looked him up and was very sorry to see this. I would have liked to say goodbye to an amazing person. RIP Prof. Mergler.

Beverly Laird

December 29, 2017

With sympathy

Donald Braun

October 14, 2017

Dear Myra, Marcia, and Harry,

You have my deepest sympathy and prayers for your loss.

Your loving father was awesome! He was my advisor for my PhD project at Case, which was developing the computer control for a Ship Frame Bending Machine during 1973-1976. He was also one of the very best professors I ever had (which is an exceedingly high compliment, because I had so many good profs as an undergrad and grad student at Case during 1967-1976). He clearly explained complex topics like the design of computers in a beautifully organized, easily understood, and inspirational way that helped me develop even greater enthusiasm for Computer Engineering. Your dad did much to change my life for the better, both because of his fabulously instructive teaching and because he essentially got me my first permanent job at NASA Lewis/Glenn by writing a very personal and extremely complimentary letter on my behalf to Lewis's Director Dr. Bruce Lundin when I finished my PhD. I did get the job immediately after my graduation, and I thoroughly enjoyed working for NASA for my entire almost 37-year career until I retired nearly 5 years ago. I also highly value the many interesting personal discussions I had the privilege of sharing with your dad at Case during the 1970s about a wide variety of topics, including our common technical, scientific, social, political, and religious interests. That included talking about our shared Lutheran faith during the LC-MS Synodical Controversy. I can't thank Dr. Mergler enough for all he did for me and for our friendship!

I had the pleasure of meeting all three of you and your mother, Irmgard, when Dr. Mergler invited me to visit your lovely home on Queen Anne's Gate in Westlake for dinner about 1975 shortly before I finished my PhD project for him. That occasion made a deep and lasting impression on me, especially for the opportunity to get to know his gracious family. Ah yes, and the main course for supper that evening was Cornish Hens.

I'm sorry that I won't get to meet you again and to express my condolences in person at his funeral or the preceding one-hour visitation on Saturday, October 14th, at Bethany English Lutheran Church because at exactly the same time my family and I will be celebrating the 2-year birthday party of my grand-niece.

Don Braun
[email protected]
216-408-1721

October 9, 2017

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Charlene Jurkoshek

October 7, 2017

Thank you, Professor Mergler.
http://ethw.org/Harry_Winston_Mergler

Audrie Hanshaw

October 5, 2017

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results