Edwin Mercier

NEW BRITAIN

Edwin "Poppie" Bernard Mercier, 87, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer on Monday, January 23, 2023, with his "high school sweetheart" Joan (Slovitski) Mercier at his side.

A lifelong resident of the "Belvidere" neighborhood in New Britain, Eddie was born on August 12, 1935, the son of Edwin and Rose (Uryga) Mercier.

A graduate of New Britain High School, he served in the United States Army where upon his return in 1956, he and Joan were married. Ed enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the field of law enforcement. Joining the New Britain Police Department in 1958 as a Supernumerary Officer, Ed went on to serve the community as a motorcycle officer, a Sergeant in the department of Community Relations and Special Services, and later serving as Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief. He trained at the FBI National Academy, Babson Command Training Institute, the National Institute of Police Community Relations, and the Major Crimes Investigation Institute. He retired in 1994 as the Acting Chief but went on to the serve the department and community as Police Commissioner, stepping down just months before his death. His love and concern for his community inspired Ed to serve in many different roles. He was a Corporator for the Hospital of Central Connecticut and for the New Britain YMCA. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for Catholic Family Services and was an active volunteer for the Komen CT Race for the Cure for many years.

His family and friends knew that any committee that his wife Joan was on, automatically meant that he was soon recruited to serve alongside her. He had a long history of service to his church, beginning as an altar boy at St. Francis and would later become an active member on various parish committees. Most importantly, Ed cherished his family and friends. He and Joan loved entertaining and will be remembered for their numerous parties including their annual Christmas Party, family holidays, and gathering around a table for great food, conversation, and laughs.

He and Joan enjoyed traveling to Europe with their friends along with their annual trip to St. Thomas with his sister-in-law and her husband, Florence and Andy Lozyniak. Ed loved fishing on the "Lil Beaner" with his family, tending to his garden and creating beautiful furniture with his woodworking talents. But above all, his greatest joy was time spent babysitting for his two grandchildren and later spending summers with the whole clan at the family beach home. He will be forever missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Ed is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Joan (Slovitski) Mercier, his loving children; daughter Lori Plocharczyk of East Haven and son Brian Mercier of New Britain, his two beloved grandchildren, Michael Plocharczyk, and his wife Sarah (Lewis) of Eliot, ME and Tara Plocharczyk and her finance, Bill Politis of Ipswich, MA, and his great grandchild, Casimir Plocharczyk, with more great grandchildren on the way. He is also survived by his loving nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at The Hospital of Central Connecticut and the Monsignor Bojnowski Manor for their care and support. Services will be held later at the discretion of the family with arrangements made by Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Burritt Hill and St. Francis of Assis Church.

Donations can be made to the New Britain Police Athletic League, 544 Osgood Avenue, New Britain, CT 06053, or online at https://www.guidestar.org/profile/06-6068865

Edwin Mercier