David Parry Mertz

Mertz, David Parry
Aug. 30, 1921 - Mar. 28, 2015
David Parry Mertz died peacefully in his sleep, March 28. He was 93. He was born in Scranton, PA and lived there until junior high school, when his family moved to Elkins Park, a suburb of Philadelphia. He graduated from Cheltenham High school and went on to Cornell University, class of '43.
Since it was WWII, David went from ROTC to Army Officers Candidate School at the end of his senior year. Before being sent to Ft. Sill, OK for basic training, he married Nancy Lee Spatz, also of Elkins Park, PA.
Flight training took the couple to Pittsburgh, Kansas and Little Rock, AR in '44, where the first of their three daughters, Susan, was born.
From Arkansas David was shipped overseas with the 82nd Airborne to France and served as an observation pilot for the Field artillery, flying Piper Cubs. In September of '45, while stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany he suffered a devastating plane crash. Transported back to the States, he spent many months recuperating in a VA hospital converted from an Atlantic City hotel.
After the war the Mertz's lived mostly in the Northeast, following David's career in sales for Koppers Coke Company, eventually retiring from General Machine Products in Trevose, PA as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Close childhood friends invited them to Venice as they neared retirement. Ultimately, they made it their residence, spending 8 months in Venice and 4 at their beloved Coxton Lake in the hills of northeast Pennsylvania where the entire family gathers each summer.
David was what people used to call a 'Hail-fellow-well-met.' He was very personable with a ready smile that made people feel special. He loved fishing in the Old Town canoe his grandfather gave him for his 12th birthday. It was actually built by Native Americans. But sailing was his favorite pastime. He will be remembered by many relaxing comfortably at the tiller of his Rhodes Class sailboat, trademark pipe clenched between his teeth.
In later years, David enjoyed his golf group at Calusa Lakes and a Thursday morning breakfast group with area businessmen.
David is survived by his wife of 71 years, Nancy, three daughters, Susan Allen (Bob), Marcia Bickmore (Jeff) and Randy Navarro, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, his sister Beatrice Coxey, her two daughters and the children of his deceased sister Connie Freeman.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Venice Presbyterian Church on the Rialto, Friday, April 10 at 11:00, with a reception following. Donations may be made to Venice Presbyterian Church, 825 The Rialto, Venice, FL 34285 or Tidewell Hospice Philanthropy Dept., 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.