Obituary of Frank Merlo, Jr.

It is with great sadness that we share the news of our father, Frank Merlo’s passing at the Regional Hospice Center for Comfort Care & Healing.  A man of strong will and stubbornness, he fought to the end to live his life on his terms and no one else’s; sometimes to his detriment. He finally succumbed to COPD on March 9, 2024.

Born to Italian immigrants on May 25, 1933, and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  In his final weeks and through the eyes of his dementia, he often re-lived his childhood memories of great family holidays and Sunday dinners, clearly longing for those loved ones and deeply rooted traditions.

As an enlisted Navy man, serving on the USS McCaffery from 1952 to 1956, he made our country proud for his service during the Korean War and often shared his stories of his world travels, ports of call and of the women in each! 

From a young boy on Coney Island, his love of the ocean and fishing never waned.  Coming to Danbury in 1969, with his late wife, Marlene, he laid down his roots in the community, fishing year-round.   It wouldn’t be unusual to see him sitting on a bucket, in the middle of West Lake, ice fishing in sub-zero temperatures, frozen fish littered about.  Also an avid saltwater fisherman, he equally enjoyed his weekly trips to Point Lookout, NY or Point Judith, RI.

Let’s not forget his love of Vegas. He had many, many fond memories of Sin City and drove us crazy right to the end wanting to book his “final trip.”  Las Vegas will never be the same for us, without our father.

He will be deeply missed by his 4 children, Frank (Cathy), Esther (Jack), Denise (Tommy) and Alison, by his grandchildren, great grandchildren and his special friend, Phyllis.

Frank's family will receive relatives and friends at the Cornell Memorial Home 247 White St. Danbury on Tuesday March 12, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday March 13, 2024 at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Linden Hill United Mthodist Cemetery in Ridgewood, NY

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury CT 06810 or visit https://regionalhospicect.org/.