Carolyn J. Merry

I miss my friend. Marleen

As a minority student at Ohio State, she did not treat me like a number. She was personable. Her door was always open, even if it was not officially office hours. As an Alum, she treated me the same way with thanksgiving during banquets, alumni events, etc. She never changed the person she was; always greeting me with a friendly ASCE smile. I'll always carry her memory. God Bless her family, friends, and loved ones. Cedric McGhee, Class of 96.

She was the nicest and most helpful professor I had at Ohio State. She took time out of her day to help me personally on more than one occasion. I'll always remember her with a smile.

Dr. Carolyn Merry, in addition to being a brilliant Geo- spatial scientist, was an extremely kind and humane person. Those of us who are in the Ohio View Consortium were fortunate to interact with her as we moved the agenda of our Consortium. She was very supportive of our International Center for Water Resources Management at Central State University joining the consortium. She was an ardent supporter of the education of underrepresented minorities in the fields of civil and environmental engineering. My her Soul Rest in Peace!

I am just learning of this now and my heart breaks for all the students, faculty, staff, and especially family of Dr. Merry. There is no better word to describe what she was to me than "Mentor," in every good sense of that word. I was hooked on Remote Sensing from the first small part of it in her Surveying course my first quarter at OSU. Her accomplishments amazed me as a student in the early 1990s and continued to do so even through our last correspondence in 2014 when I had heard about a scholarship she established at Edinboro in Pennsylvania where I live now and wrote to ask her about when she had started it. After many years in manufacturing, I am about to return to my career in geospatial data and thought it would be great to be able to keep in touch with her professionally again. That is how I found this news. She was absolutely a legend in all facets of her work. I am sure that she was even more of a treasure to her family, so to all of you I send my prayers for peace in loss. My great grandparents' roots, some of my roots, are in the same area of PA where she started her life, and I spend time there in genealogy research. She will always be in my mind when I visit that beautiful part of PA. Godspeed, Carolyn, professor, mentor, and friend.

Dear Bob and all of Carolyn's family, I just learned of Carolyn's tragic death and am so deeply saddened. It is a heartbreaking loss. I worked with Carolyn at CRREL back in the mid-1980s while in college. It was my first professional experience and Carolyn was a treasured mentor and friend. I learned so much from her and as I have navigated my own career and taken on mentoring roles and management responsibilities I know her positive influence has guided, influenced and supported me. We always traded Christmas cards and I looked forward to her updates and was always impressed and touched by the true joy that emanated from her words. My prayers are with you all. With deepest sympathy, Maureen Donahue Hardwick, Washington, DC

Bob, It has been almost 10 days since Carolyn became an angel but just wanted to let you know that you are still in our thoughts & prayers dealing with this new chapter in your life. You have the support from all the Rebounders I am sure. Mimi & Marty Mudrak

I am so sorry to hear of Carolyn's passing. We were together all through our school years and spent so much time together. I remember spending many nights over at Carolyn's house, dancing in the living room, playing outside around the farm, and the little ones watching cartoons in the morning and running to catch the bus at the last minute. She was a good friend to me always. I will cherish the memories we made together.

I have so many fond childhood memories of Carolyn and I. We went through all our school years together. I remember staying overnight, dancing in the living room, playing outside around the farm, and all the little ones watching cartoons in the morning before the bus would come. Carolyn was always a good friend to me and I will miss her.

I apologize for my delinquency of my comments, but it has taken me awhile to try to select the proper words. I was stunned and saddened by the news of Carolyn's death. I had the good fortune to be one of Carolyn's professors during her undergraduate career at Edinboro. The department also employed her for general departmental tasks and as a tutor. Our kids remember her as a babysitter.
Carolyn was one of our department's bright and shining stars. The seeds I saw in her clearly sprouted, grew, and blossomed as her career developed. I would be proud if I could believe I had some small part in that process. Over the years, I occasionally pointed out that she wasn't doing too bad for a little pom-pom girl from Waterford, Pa. The accolades in these memoria, exemplify much of what Carolyn was, but words are insufficient, as words often are, to capture the total person.
My heartfelt condolences go out to her family.

I knew Dr. Merry since 1988 when I started graduate school at Ohio State University. She was my co-advisor for my PhD Dissertation. To me she was a role model, a mentor, an advisor, a friend, and guardian angel.
Dr. Merry was one of the most fascinating people I ever met in my life. She always had a smile on her face. She was smart, charismatic, enthusiastic, and radiated positive energy.
After I graduated, she kept in touch. I looked forward to her Christmas Holiday cards. I looked forward to her email notifying me she is visiting Florida. She would contact me and make time in her busy schedule to meet me. She always made time for her students and made each student feel special.
Her dreadful death is un-comprehensible. It is very heartbreaking for such a wonderful human being to have such a tragic death.
I extend my sympathy to Robert and her family. May she rest in peace and may God bless you all with the patience to cope with the loss.

I have known Carolyn for 37 years. She was the kindest person ever. I will miss her for the rest of my life. She loved her family so much, and I know they will miss her for the rest of their lives. It's still unbelievable that she is not here. I pray for strength for her family.

"Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity? " ~ Cesar Chavez

"Dr. Carolyn Merry" is among these classics and will ever be a guide.

To the Merry family...I am so sorry for your loss and soon your memories will sustain you. RiP Carolyn...going through this is so very hard. God bless all of you.

To all of the Merry family, my heart hurts for you. You will be in my prayers.

To the Merry family my condolences, it is so sad to say goodbye to someone you love so much.

I was greatly saddened by the news of Dr. Carolyn Merry's demise. I had the good fortune of collaborating with her in the Ohio View Consortium. She was perhaps one of the most humane scientists you will come across and she reached out to many for engaging in improving engineering and remote sensing education. We will definitely miss her.
Our heart felt condolences to her family.

I am a former classmate from Wattsbug High School. Although, I have only seen her half a dozen times since we graduated in 1968, I have kept up with her accomplishments. I am impressed with her achievements, as I am sure, her family is impressed. I know you are deeply saddened by her loss, I send my condolences to you. The world will miss a wonderful human being.

Our deepest condolences to Carolyn's husband Bob and the family.

We have known Dr. Carolyn Merry for ten years and we will miss her.

Dear Patty, Katie and Sara,
So sorry to read of your loss. We remember how close you all were and know you will miss her. We send our deepest sympathy.
With love,
Harold and Sandra

I was broken-hearted when I heard about Carolyn on the news Tuesday evening. It was such a shock and I liked her so much. Carolyn was one of those faculty who respected and was always giving and pleasant to the academic advisors in the college. She never failed to say, "Hi" or stop to chat when we met in passing. I admired her as department chair for CE. I think she did a great deal in bringing that department into its own nationally. She was truly such a great lady and really one of those people the world should mourn for all of the contributions to her friends, to her family, to her colleagues and to science she had yet to make. She so did not deserve to have her life cut so short. You have my sincerest sympathy. She will truly be missed by many, and certainly by me.

Deepest regards at the sad loss of your dearest loved one Carolyn. She will always be remembered as a sweet kind person from all who went to school with her at Wattsburg High. God Bless all of her family.

Most Sincerely,
Vince Kloss and the entire Kloss Family

"Never afraid to help any student, I still remember when I came into the Engineering office in the middle of the summer, nobody was there but Doctor Merry and a few aids. She just stopped what she was doing and helped me with my career path. She will be missed and remembered."

Dr. Merry was a great professor and ASCE advisor when I was in school. I am truly saddened and shocked by this news. She was special and kind, and her office door was always open for good advice. My prayers and thoughts go out to her family and friends.
-Cedric McGhee, BS 1996

Carolyn was such a wonderful person, so upbeat and outgoing. I will miss her very much. I send Bob and her family and friends my deepest condolences. Love, Tom

I had the pleasure to work for Carolyn for ten years. It didn't matter to Carolyn who you were or what your department status level may be she always made time for a conversation. I always looked forward to our buckeye football and basketball conversations. Carolyn you will be greatly missed by all those you touched.

We were greatly saddened to learn of Carolyn's passing. She was a great friend of our department and we were immensely proud of her accomplishments as one of our graduates. Please accept our condolences on behalf of the Department of Geosciences and Edinboro University.

Brian S. Zimmerman
Chair, Department of Geosciences
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

I knew Carolyn through various College of Engineering activities and through a community organization. I remember Carolyn for her wonderful combination of intelligence, sincerity and warmth. Her loss is a real tragedy.

I knew Carolyn through various College of Engineering activities and through a community organization. I remember Carolyn for her wonderful combination of intelligence, sincerity and warmth. Her loss is a real tragedy.

I knew Carolyn as a friend in high school. When I saw her at a class reunion a few years ago, I teased her about being the most educated person I knew, but also told her how proud I was of her accomplishments. She remained true to herself as a kind and considerate person. Although I haven't seen Carolyn in recent years, I enjoyed our friendship and am saddened at her untimely demise. I extend sympathies to all of Carolyn's family. May you rest in peace, Carolyn.

Don, Amber and Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you through the days ahead. May the many lives she has touched bring you comfort. And the memories of her accomplished life remain with you always. God Bless.

I have known Dr. Merry since 2001 first as undergraduate. I loved the way she inspired us to be better engineers. I will be ever grateful to her for guiding me towards my graduate studies in 2011~2012. To the family and friends of Dr. Merry, I wish to convey my deepest sympathy and pray that the All Mighty gives you strength to overcome this terrible loss. Good by Dr. Merry you will be dearly missed.

I took almost all the graduate level GIS and Remote Sensing classes that Dr. Merry offered at The Ohio State University. Most of her classes used to start at around 7.45 am and during the recently concluded 2014 ASPRS conference, i jokingly asked her the reason for offering classes early on in the day. Frankly, i always had to make extra efforts to come to her class during winter and spring quarters, She provided a reason that was quite convincing. She had a hearty laugh after being apprised of the fact that some students felt inconvenienced with the class timing but never complained sensing her deep commitment to teaching. She was a wonderful human being and also acted as a great mentor during my time at the OSU. Even after graduation, we kept meeting at the conferences and couple of times during my visit to The Ohio State. She always took genuine interest in my growth as a faculty and was very encouraging and complimentary of my success. I feel sad that such a soft person has been taken away from us in a violent manner. My heartfelt condolences for her husband, family and friends. May God rest her soul in peace.

Life is a journey of sweetness and sorrow.
The joy that we share with the people we love is held in our hearts and will never be forgotten.
To all of Carolyn's family, as you go through this time of sadness,know that we are thinking of you.

I was a student in Dr. Merry's Surveying course at Ohio State. From the first day of class, it was easy to distinguish that she was an educator who was passionate about her teaching and who also cared about the success of her students. I graduated from the OSU School of Engineering almost 20 years ago and that was the only course I took with Dr. Merry, but she is still probably at the top of the list of a handful of professors who I remember as having made a lasting impression upon me. She provided a very real, caring and human face to a large educational institution and the school of engineering was made better by her presence. I am very saddened to hear of her passing.

To Carolyn's Family and Friends,

I am stunned and saddened by this news. I just learned of it late today. As all of you already know Carolyn was such a kind-hearted person with positive energy and a genuine interest and willingness to help. She unselfishly shared her knowledge and experiences as Dept. Chair with me during my first couple of years here in a similar role – in fact, her fingerprints are embedded in elements of our departmental governance documents and faculty mentoring program. Her smile and spirit were always so uplifting. What a wonderful role model for all of us both in work and life. Please know that I will keep her loving family and dear friends in my thoughts and prayers, and join each of you in celebrating her life and wonderful deeds, accomplishments and contributions.

With sympathy,

Rustin

I recently enjoyed hearing Dr. Merry commenting on her retirement,she was so excited about just teaching. What a great loss for all, I am thankful to have known her. Teresa at her dental office.

I want to give my deepest condolences and sympathies to her family. I was told today by the highway patrol that I was the only witness that saw the whole accident that caused her untimely death. I was the first person there to see if I could help. This tragedy has hit me pretty hard. I am truly sorry for your loss.

Although I still have not used the eigenvector theory Dr. Merry taught me in advanced remote sensing, I remember her ease in covering abstract concepts in a manner that made them seem simple and applicable. Her kindhearted style of teaching and depth of knowledge was a great asset to the geodetic science and civil programs at Ohio State and I consider myself fortunate to have known and learned from her.
Respectfully,
Doug Wilson
Class of 91 & 93.

It is very sad to lose larger than life persons like Carolyn Merry, who have given so much to so many. Any consoling words would be like feeding bread crumbs to the need of a famine. May God bless the dear departed and give courage to the family to bear this sudden shock. Amer Ahmad , Lahore, Pakistan, Class of 81, Civil Engineering, OSU

Our profession has lost a great leader, researcher and teacher. We have lost a wonderful friend. I will cherish our times together for ASPRS and ISPRS, especially our early morning runs in the palace gardens in Vienna. My heart goes out to Bob and her family.

I first met Carolyn and Bob through the Columbus Metropolitan Club. I then enjoyed Carolyn's company as part of OSU Women & Philanthropy. It was an added bonus to be members of Buckeye Boosters with them.
She was eagerly heading to golf in her every-present OSU garb when I last saw her a couple of weeks ago.
May she rest in peace.

Dr. Merry will always be the nicest professor in my heart. She will live in every student's memory. May her rest in peace.

Dear Patty & Family,

I am so sorry to hear the news of Carolyn. I remember Patty talking so proudly of her sister. May all the great memories get you through this time. Rest in Peace Carolyn. God Bless You and Your Family.

Dr. Merry was one of the best teacher I knew. Her devotion to students was extraordinary.

Carolyn was a great colleague. She was so kind and thoughtful. She kept her cool when everyone else was losing theirs. I will miss her greatly.

I first met Dr. Merry early in my undergraduate career when I took her Surveying class. Later, when I was struggling to finish my degree due to some very trying personal issues, she was the OSU faculty member who took the time to listen and help me. She always found the time to care. Sometimes it seems like OSU is so big and faceless - but Dr. Merry was approachable, genuine, and personally helped me on multiple occasions despite her busy schedule and responsibilities as Dept. Chair. She was wonderfully compassionate and kind to me - she made ALL the difference during that time. I will never forget that.

Dr. Merry is the best professor ever. Her kindness will be always remembered! We love her and respect her !

With deepest sympathy to Patty, Jim, Donnie and families. Words cannot express the shock and sense of loss the world /her world must feel.Our prayers are with you.

My prayers for healing and peace as you walk through the grieving ahead.

I knew Dr. Merry as a dedicated professional, an inspiring educator, and a wonderful person. My sincere condolences to her family.
George Schweitzer

Dr. Merry was a most lovable professor that I ever met in my life. She was my advisor for my MS and Ph.D. I have academically well fed by her supervision. I live in Seattle, Washington, since January 2008. Since my graduation in 2007, it has been my great pleasure to have lunch with her every year. An attached photo was taken six days before the tragic accident. During a lunch with her, Dr. Merry talked about her personal life and her desire and passion of her six or seven academic/community services that she has been providing after her retirement. It seemed for Dr. Merry there were a lot to give to this world. I have an unutterable sadness by the tragic loss of Dr. Merry. She has been a part of my life ever since I knew her. However, I believe that Dr. Merry is held by the Good Lord's arms. Her smile and positive attitude will be remembered forever.

I first met Carolyn and Bob through the Columbus Metropolitan Club. I then enjoyed Carolyn's company as part of OSU Women & Philanthropy. It was an added bonus to be members of Buckeye Boosters with them.
She was eagerly heading to golf in her every-present OSU garb when I last saw her a couple of weeks ago.
May she rest in peace.

Carolyn was an inspiration, to say the least. Bob, we are so sorry for your tremendous loss. May memories of Carolyn take you through this most difficult time. With much love, thoughts and prayers, Carol and David

Carolyn was a wonderful friend, a great teacher and a leader who made so many important contributions to OSU and to the community. We will miss her infectious laugh, her bright smile and her generous nature. We extend our sincere heartfelt condolences to Bob and to all of Carolyn's family on this tragic loss. --Kathy and Amery

Dr. Merry was an inspiring woman in the Civil Engineering field. She always took time to help and mentor others. She was kind, compassionate, and always willing to take on new challenges. I appreciate her openness to allowing me to shadow her and learn from her. She was taken from us too soon and will be greatly missed.

I worked with Carolyn as the contact member of ASCE for the OSU Student Chapter of ASCE for years. She was an inspiration to me and the students.
I was greatly saddened to learn of her tragic death. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Dick Swisshelm.