Donna Merris

Donna R. Merris, 85, of Sandwich, New Hampshire, died Monday, August 18, 2025 at New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York City, after a brief battle with cancer. She was born November 25, 1939 in Bluffs, Illinois, the daughter of Donald Doyle and Helen Frohwitter Merris.

Donna started college at age 16 and earned degrees from Illinois State University, Northwestern University and Brooklyn Law School. Her professional life spanned several careers, and she excelled in all of them: professional musician, music educator and administrator; prosecutor in the public corruption unit of the Southern District of New York; New York City public servant appointed by elected officials of both parties; and finally, administrative law judge for the City of New York. Her work ethic and attention to detail were legendary - she earned her law degree mid-career, attending law school at night while working full time as the Executive Director of the Brooklyn Music School in New York City.

While she was an exceptionally hard working person and really intended to keep working forever, in her late 60s she retired from her judicial post to become a full time mom to her two daughters, then in middle school. She never tired of recounting her adventures (and prowess) in cooking, carpooling, supervising cello lessons, and providing snacks for team sports during those years. Her late-in-life role as a mom gave her immense joy and satisfaction. She was thrilled to become a grandmother, and in her last days she was able to meet her first grandchild in person.

Donna is survived by her wife, Robyn Huffman, their daughters, Kate Gorud (Christopher) of Washington, DC, and Kristen Booke (Milo) of Brooklyn, New York, her newborn granddaughter, Caroline Merris Gorud, one brother, Harold C. (Judy) Merris of Mt. Carmel, Illinois and many beloved nieces and nephews, some by blood, many by bonds of common affection. She was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Merris Smith of Holderness, New Hampshire and two brothers, Robert Merris of Apple Valley, Minnesota and William Merris of Jacksonville, Illinois.

Donna and Robyn moved full time to their long-time summer home in Sandwich, New Hampshire in 2020.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew's in the Valley Episcopal Church, 678 Whittier Road, Tamworth, New Hampshire.

A memorial will also be held at Christ and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in New York City, 120 West 69th Street, on October 4 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Bearcamp Center for Sustainable Community, South Tamworth, New Hampshire, https://bearcampcenter.org or the Westside Campaign Against Hunger, New York City, https://wscah.org.