ROBERT "Bob" MERRILL

About

University of Massachusetts University of Texas

ROBERT MERRILL Obituary

Bob Merrill was born in southern California in 1941, and passed away in May of 2016. He had a long career as a geologist, earning a Bachelor of Arts at University of California, Riverside, a Master of Science at University of Massachusetts, and his Ph.D. at the University of Texas. During his 35 years as a professor of geology at California State University, Fresno, he taught and mentored both undergraduate and graduate students preparing many students for careers in geology and related fields. Bob traveled widely and practiced civic activism relating to water, land use, and energy by stressing the ethic of using knowledge of geology to protect the public interest. Bob will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He is survived by his wife, Diane Merrill; son, Cyrus Merrill and wife Mindy Morton; son, Than Merrill and wife Cindy Phillips; step-son, Alex Martinez; grandson, Tyce Merrill, and two more grandchildren on the way; brother, Roy Merrill; and sister, Alice Nifong. A Memorial Service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, 2672 E. Alluvial Ave., Fresno, CA 93720 on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to valleypbs.org; or Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno. Bob's family would love to have people help us gather favorite stories and memories. To do so, go to www. forevermissed.com and search for his name.

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

Published by Fresno Bee on May 29, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for ROBERT MERRILL

Sponsored by His loving family.

11 Entries

June 5, 2016

I was saddened to hear of Bob's passing. He taught a lesson at church school at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, and I was "demoted" to assistant teacher. I learned more in that lesson about the plates and rocks of this earth than in any other class.
Natalie Maxwell

Stephen Lewis

June 4, 2016

Bob was a great friend and colleague in the Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences a CSU Fresno. He touched many students in his long and influential career. He will be missed.

Diane, Patrizia, Bob, and Graham, Sant Cugat, Spain, May, 2009

Graham Mortyn

June 4, 2016

Bob the Builder

Though I first met Bob in the capacity of colleague and mentor at the CSU Fresno Dept. of EES (2001-2004), I mostly and fondly look back at how he touched me in friendship. He was affectionately known as a talker, and I soon learned of the expression Merrillized (from one of our department's grad. students) when one got caught up in long discussion with Bob. As a loquacious one myself (witness the eventual length of this entry), Bob and I hit it off straight away in long and friendly discussions, always marked by warmth, discovery, and laughter. Not long after I met him my own family life began, and we were reading about Bob the Builder to our kids; in fact it sort of became how he was affectionately known to us, as a builder. Bob himself always enjoyed the analogy (who would not want to be known as a builder?). So if we consider it's meaning, we conjure up images of construction, progress, forging along, and generally moving forward in a positive fashion. This is what Bob was about to me; he was a builder of all things good in friendship.

We shared a great many burrito lunches on campus, bike rides and walks in Woodward Park and elsewhere in and around Fresno, and a genuine flare for the earth and marine sciences and their roles in natural history more broadly. I also shared with Bob a fascination for world travel and discovery. At his home I was introduced to an astounding array of artifacts and stories from his various journeys. Through Diane and my own wife Patrizia, our friendship expanded to family domains. We shared several home-cooked meals in their wonderful company, and learned vicariously about their extended families. Bob and Diane visited us here in Sant Cugat (Barcelona, Spain) back in 2009. I had no way of knowing then of course that saying good bye took on permanency. When I learned of Bob's passing from another friend and former colleague (John Suen) 8 days ago, the news hit me like a bomb.

Bob's friendship has permanent impact and I will always remember him fondly for his warmth, kindness, inspiring passion for lifelong learning (we are professors after all!), and fabulous sense of humor. Though he was 25 years my senior, to me he felt like a bro or dude (a.k.a. friend), such that generational gap was clearly no barrier. Though we naturally mourn his loss, we feel mostly blessed to have known him and have his warmth and kindness impact our lives. As Bob was a builder to us, I suppose this is the most positive way of moving forward in his great spirit.

Our best wishes go to Diane and all of those that Bob has left behind in family and in friendship (this list is surely long). Bob the Builder is forever in our hearts.

Graham Mortyn (and Patrizia, along with our kids Elisa and Tommaso), Sant Cugat, Spain, June 4, 2016

Keith Putirka

June 3, 2016

What I recall most about Bob is how he (and John Suen also) went out of his way to make me feel like a welcome and valued member of the EES department. Anytime Bob Merrill would see me in the hallway, his first question was always "is there anything you need?", "what can we do for you?", "is there anything we need to be doing for you?". And if it wasn't a question, he'd say "we're so glad you joined our department". He and Diane would invite us to dinner or they would offer tickets to the Fresno State football games - he really made us feel glad to be here. We didn't know anyone, of course, but with Bob in the department, we felt like we had a good friend. This is a very sad loss for Heather and I, and for our department. My condolences to all his family. I know how important you all were, because when he wasn't asking me what I needed, he'd talk about his family and how lucky he was. I will miss him.

Mike Botwin

June 3, 2016

Bob always followed his own moral compass and was a tour de force for good on the campus of California State University, Fresno. Bob's wit and wisdom will be sorely missed.

I am out of the state and regrettably will not be able to attend the celebration of Bob's life. However, I send my deepest condolences to the Merrill family at this sad time.

Ken Pascal

June 3, 2016

Bob Merrill was my dear friend, valued colleague, and next door neighbor. He took the lead in bringing Stephen J. Gould and Carl Sagan to lecture in Fresno. A highly regarded professor and world traveler, he was a lifelong learner who always asked thought provoking questions. A proud dad, I enjoyed accompanying him to see his son play football at Fresno High, Stanford, and Yale. I will miss walking around the neighborhood discussing many things and having a laugh. He touched many lives in positive ways. Bob and Diane are in my thoughts and prayers.

Carlos Muller

June 3, 2016

Bob:
All those of us who had the fortune of knowing you will certainly miss you!

Richard Sloan

June 2, 2016

Our paths crossed many times. I had him for class at CSUF and events along the San Joaquin River. He will be missed!

May 31, 2016

What terrible news! Bob Merrill was a gifted teacher, a champion for the environment, and a good and decent human being. Diane, we can't even begin to imagine your sorrow. The earth has lost one of its strongest advocates and we have lost a dear friend. Bob, you will be missed !
Fondly, Frank and Patti Helling

Dr. Stephen Ervin

May 30, 2016

It was a pleasure to know and work with Bob for the 32 years that I was at CSU, Fresno. Bob was always funny and he frequently had a cute story to tell. He was a great colleague.

Karen Finch

May 29, 2016

Bob was one of the first professors we had and had a pivotal influence on the direction of our lives. He was always asking us over for enchiladas. He was a sincere environmentalist and really was an advocate for the earth.

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results