Philip Edward Merritt

1927 - 2015

Philip Edward Merritt
Resident of Sunnyvale
Philip Edward Merritt passed away peacefully on 20 February 2015 at his home in Sunnyvale, CA. He was born 8 May 1927 in Pacific Grove, CA, the youngest son of Richard Henry Merritt and Mabel Berryman Merritt. His father was a manager at the Enterprise Packing company on Canary Row in Monterey and his mother was an advocate for education in Pacific Grove where the family lived. As a youth Phil explored the seaside vistas along the Monterey Peninsula that he loved, along with his brothers Richard, John, and Warren. He passed this love of Pacific Grove on to his children and grandchildren who like to gather at the tide pools and climb the rocks that mark its coast.
Gifted with a keen intellect, Phil graduated first from Kings Point (US Merchant Marine Academy) in Long Island, New York in 1948 and then earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from UC Berkeley in 1952, a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1953, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 1960. He began his career at Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park (now SRI International) as a member of the Project ERMA team and developed the magnetic ink character recognition system used on most checks today. He holds several patents for his work there. Later he formed the Information and Control Laboratory within the Engineering Division of SRI to extend the use of the digital computer in modern control theory.
In 1968 he left SRI and co-founded Systems Control, Inc. where he served as President. SCI's mission was to apply modern control theory to applications in electrical power distribution, nuclear power generation, industrial processes, environmental controls, and aeronautical and defense systems. When SCICON, a subsidiary of British Petroleum, purchased SCI in 1982, Phil moved with his wife to London as Research Coordinator for the company. Many family members visited the couple in London during this time. After returning from England in 1984, Phil was Chairman of Centigram, a pioneering company in voice messaging. Later he became Chairman of UTI Instruments, before fully retiring in 1995 to spend more time with family and to pursue his many interests.
While he enjoyed a rewarding professional life, Phil balanced this with his family life. He married Beth Nadine Galpin in 1952 and they had five children, Philip, Karen, Jennifer, Nancy, and Thomas. The family shared his love of the outdoors, spending two weeks each summer camping in the Redwoods throughout Northern California, and in later years hiking the trails at Calaveras Big Trees State Park near his cabin in Arnold, CA. He enjoyed personal interests of wood carving, birdwatching, and playing harmonica, clarinet, and flamenco guitar. He and his late wife traveled to many places and always took their binoculars so they could identify and learn about the local birds. He played an active role in his community. Notably he was a member of the Congregational Community Church in Sunnyvale for over fifty years, served on various boards providing his insight, support, and encouragement, and was involved in the PTA.
He is survived by his five children, as well as eight grandchildren, Rebecca, Alexander, Benjamin, Lindsey, Alyssa, Ryan, Kyle, and Shannon, and four great grandchildren, Addy, Valisa, Mia, and Elise in whom he took great pride.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm on February 28th at the Congregational Community Church, 1112 S. Bernardo in Sunnyvale. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Merritt's name to the American Cancer Society or the Calaveras Big Trees Association.