1950 Daniel Merrill

June 1, 1932 - Mar. 13, 2016

SOUTH BEND - Daniel Merrill, retired professor of philosophy at Oberlin College, passed away March 13, 2016, after a very brief hospitalization.

Dan was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1932, the third of five children. His parents, Kenneth and Helen Merrill nurtured his love of books and music, and he remained close to his siblings his entire life.

Graduating from Riley High School in 1950, Dan continued his education first at Princeton University as a math major and then at the University of Minnesota where he pursued his Ph.D. in philosophy. In the early summer of 1955 he met Marlene Deahl, also of South Bend, and they were engaged three months later. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this August.

Dan and Marly moved to Oberlin in 1962 where they raised two children, Steve and Karen. Dan cherished his students and colleagues in the Philosophy Department, and he threw himself into the life of the college: he enjoyed learning about a range of scholarly fields, and his sense of fairness made him a sought-after member on many college committees over his 38-year career at Oberlin. He edited and authored a number of publications, most notably his book, Augustus de Morgan and the Logic of Relations.

Most of all, Dan adored music, and until the last couple years when his health slowed him down, he and Marly could be found attending scores of concerts a year. He especially loved concerts in the Oberlin College Artist Recital Series and by the Cleveland Orchestra. Dan's retirement years also allowed him and Marly to spend a great deal of time with friends and family both in Oberlin and in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where in 1987 they had bought a small house they called “Salem.” There, they continued their love of music by attending the summer Grand Teton Music Festival. But it was also a place where another side of Dan came out, someone who loved wildlife and leisurely float trips down the Snake River, and who became deeply engaged with local land and conservation issues.

Dan is survived by his beloved wife, Marly; his son Steve and daughter-in-law Nancy Day Merrill, and their children Annabelle and Jessie Mei; his daughter Karen and her former partner, Martha Umphrey, and their sons Theo and Dash; his sisters Martha Pickrell and Cynthia Tamny, and sister-in-law Helen Merrill, and his brother in-law Michael Tamny, and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Helen Merrill, his sister, Janet Merrill and brother, Kenneth Merrill.

On April 30, 2016, the burial office and Eucharist will be celebrated at Christ Church at 11:00 a.m. A Memorial Service celebrating Dan's life will be held at First Church at 2:00 p.m. Donations in Dan's memory may be made to Friends of the Artist Recital Series at Oberlin College. Arrangements were in the care of Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria.

For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com.

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