John Raymond Mertz

Family-Placed Obituary

JOHN RAYMOND MERTZ John Raymond Mertz, age 87, of Pompano Beach, Florida, passed from this life on January 5, 2008 at the John Knox Health Center. Mr. Mertz was born on November 27, 1920 in Bath, Pennsylvania. Upon graduating from Nazareth High School, he went to work at Bethleham Steel as a crane operator. This was followed by a stint in the Army from 1944-46. After his discharge from the service, he enrolled at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Social Studies. Post graduate studies were engaged at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and American University in Washington, D.C. At the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, Mr. Mertz received a Master's Degree in Secondary Education. The same year, he married his college sweetheart, Harriet Gould, and was employed as a teacher at Miami High, teaching Social Studies via television where one of his students was the future Governor of Florida and United States Senator, Robert (Bob) Graham. A teaching position at Coral Gables High was his next assignment. This was followed by his appointment as Assistant Principal of South Miami Junior High where he was later promoted to Principal. He was then chosen to open a prototype middle school for Dade County, after a month's administrative study in Russia, at W.R. Thomas Middle School and then at Kinloch Middle School before retiring in 1982. His professional career included: Supervisor of interns for the University of Miami, School Administrator for 30 years in Dade County, Manager and Buyer for Minges and Minges, LTD, an upscale decorator shop in Coral Gables, a tour escort for Burdines Travel Bureau in Miami, and tour escort and planner for Boca Raton Travel and Cruises company in Boca Raton, FL. In this capacity, he visited 16 countries in Europe and escorted 16 tours to the Far East and 7 to China. In 1990, he and his wife moved to Palm Beach Gardens where he pursued his hobbies of reading, antiques and collectibles, landscaping, musical study, organ playing and orchid culture. He had over 200 orchids at one time. In January of 2007, John and Harriet moved to John Knox Village, a continuous care retirement community in Pompano Beach, FL where he entered the Health Center as a patient in the Alzheimer's unit of Village Glen. He is survived by his wife, Harriet Gould Mertz, and related family members. A private interment will be made at the Woodlawn Mausoleum in Miami, to be followed by a reception 4 PM Thursday at VAN ORSDEL CORAL GABLES CHAPEL. A celebration of his life will be held at John Knox at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Village Glen at John Knox Village, 651 Village Dr. Pompano Beach, FL 33060, would be greatly appreciated by the family. VAN ORSDEL CORAL GABLES 4600 S.W. 8TH STREET To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries