Matt Merfeld

Augusta - AUGUSTA - Matt Merfeld, 83, passed away September 28, 2015 at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta after a short battle with Cancer. He was born February 6, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois the son of the late Mathias and Anna Merfeld.

He graduated from Palatine High School and then received a degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. Later, after his service in the Navy, he attended graduate school at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he received both his Master of Arts and Doctorate of Education.

After teaching at Montclair State University (NJ) for a few years, Matt moved the family to Castine, Maine in 1970 where he was a professor of Mathematics for 25 years.

For the past 9 months he resided at the Balsam House, a lovely residential care home in Readfield, Maine near his son, Peter and his family in Augusta. Prior to that he spent two years in Belfast and 43 years in Castine.

He proudly shared a birthday with Babe Ruth, February 6. He enjoyed seeing the large life size portrait of the Babe at Darby's in Belfast were he and long time companion Nancy Carr enjoyed lunch over the years. He missed Nancy very much after her passing in November 2014. They shared many great memories after Matt retired from Maine Maritime Academy and moved into the Castine lighthouse where Nancy had been since the late 1960's.

Growing up outside of Chicago, Matt was a lifelong Chicago Cubs & Chicago Bears fan. He was so pleased to hear in the days leading up to his passing that the Cubs clinched a playoff birth this year.

Matt was a high school track star. He lettered all 4 years in track at Illinois Tech running the 400 and 800. Later in life he took up tennis and golf and continued to run. In recent years you could find him watching Golf and rooting for the Americans especially Phil Mickelson. Football was a big part of his life as well. He worked in the booth at many Maine Maritime Academy football games during his tenure.

Matt was most proud of his service in the Navy, serving for nearly 2 years in the South Pacific aboard the USS Kenneth Whiting AV-14.

He was a veteran, son of immigrants, retired college mathematics professor, loved woodworking, making furniture and gardening, a World War II history buff, stamp collector, avid reader, fan of the Turner Classic Movie channel & crossword puzzles, and proud grandfather of three.

Matt is survived by his two sons, Mark Merfeld of New York City, and Peter Merfeld, of Augusta, Maine and his wife Melissa and his grandchildren Johnathan, Kolbe and Elizabeth. He by also survived by his sister Nancy Merfeld Busse and her husband, Gordon Busse of Palm Springs, CA and his two nephews Craig Busse, of Oroville, CA and Todd Busse, of Palm Springs, CA.

A graveside service will be held at a future date at the Castine cemetery.

Gifts in Matt's memory can be made to Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area (www.hvwa.org) or MaineGeneral Hospice (http://give.mainegeneral.org/hospice). Condolences to the family can be expressed at www.plummerfh.com.