Meryl Richardson Nolan

Meryl Richardson Nolan passed away peacefully at 86 years young. She was surrounded by her family in Oxford, Maryland. Meryl loved her family and friends so very much.

Born in Mt. Vernon, New York, daughter of Merlyn Eldon Richardson and Eleanor Low Richardson, she moved to Philadelphia at six months and went to Stevens School of Germantown. She participated in plays, one with Grace Kelly. Field hockey was her love. She attended the Philadelphia School of Art.

Moving to Wilmington, Delaware, Meryl attended Wilmington Friends through High School. She was the captain of the field hockey team, and chair for dance decorations.

At Mary Baldwin University she obtained an art degree with a minor in play production. Meryl was very active in extracurricular activities, becoming President of the Recreation Association, Fine Arts Club, and the Dolphin Swim Club. She played and taught field hockey and traveled to Bermuda and many cities in Europe.

After promoting her art portfolio and coaching basketball in Atlanta she moved to Washington D.C. where she worked at The National Gallery of Art in the Publications Department and met President Kennedy. Even better, in D.C. she met Gaillard Ravenel Nolan (Gil) at a Hexagon Club meeting. They fell in love and married in Chevy Chase, Maryland in 1963. Enjoying life in Acton, Massachusetts for 25 years, they raised two active boys, Gaillard Ravenel Nolan, Jr. and Merlyn Richardson Nolan (Rich). Meryl was very busy with parents committees, the Junior League and her love of the garden. She also served on the Concord Antiquarian Museum Guild. She was published for the design and curation of various period rooms there. She eventually acquired a degree in Interior Design and started Meryl Nolan Interiors.

Meryl and Gil moved to Miami in 1990. She was involved with the Junior League, the Coconut Grove Garden Club, and the Fairchild Tropical Garden. Very engaged in the Coral Gables Villagers, she curated the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage on Key Biscayne, and oversaw Dr. Fairchild's Study and the School House in Coconut Grove.

After 10 years they moved to Santa Clarita, California. Meryl was a member of the Garden Club and the Junior League. Meryl and Gil loved to travel, visiting Hawaii, New Zealand, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, San Francisco and San Diego. Outside of San Diego they were thrilled to enjoy a hot air balloon ride.

They moved back to their home in Florida for two years. Meryl wanted to be closer to Rich in Maryland to watch the grandchildren grow up, moving to beautiful Oxford. They were able to sail their sloop, Windfall, on the Tred Avon. They took several river and land trips in England, Scotland, Ireland, Europe, and Russia.

Gil passed on in 2020. Meryl is survived by her two sons Gaillard Ravenel Nolan, Jr. (Pamela Barit Nolan), Merlyn Richardson Nolan, (Heather Falk Nolan), two grandchildren, Hadley Jane Nolan and Parker Richardson Nolan and loved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She loved sharing her passions and great times with her dear friends in wonderful Oxford, and Talbot County volunteer organizations.

A memorial service will be held on November 23rd at Holy Trinity Church in Oxford, Maryland at 1 p.m. Donations in Meryl's memory can be made to friends at The Oxford Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, The Oxford Garden Club, and The Oxford Museum.

For online condolences, please visit: www.fhnfuneralhome.com