Donald Merz

“He was a giant among men.” He has “a legacy that burns brighter than a billion suns.” He left “an indelible mark on so many people.” These are just a few things people who knew Don Merz recall about the man he was during his astounding years earthside.

Dr. Donald “Don” Merz passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of June 14th, 2024, with his wife, Teresa, and daughter, Leslie, by his side, under the loving care of Hospice.  He was 85 years old.

Don was born on January 12th, 1939, in Columbus, Ohio, to Leo and Elsie (nee Seymour) Merz. Living a life dedicated to serving others, Don served in the U.S. Army 1957-1965. He prized his time in the Army although he delighted in telling his kids that since his time served was between the Korean and Vietnam wars that Elvis was the only threat to our society in those days,

In 1966, he graduated with an M.D. from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Columbus, serving as Chief Resident in 1971. He then joined Medical Associate (PrimeCare), Zanesville,Ohio as a Board-Certified Internal Medicine physician. In those days there were no hospitalists, so he was a very diligent man, attending to a busy office practice, making hospital rounds and sharing call with his two partners.  His senior partner Dr. Chuck Donley, gave an apt description in a treasured letter: “your clinical skills, sense of humor and easy-going personality are greatly admired and a lesson for everyone”

His devotion to his patients was well known, reflected in numerous stories from office staff how he was known to secretly accept vegetables, pies, etc. in lieu of payment for financially strapped patients. A particularly well-known story is how he once left a gift of fish in the office refrigerator, none the wiser until the smell became overwhelming

He enjoyed the respect and admiration of his peers, serving as President and Chief of Medical Staff at Good Samaritan Hospital (now Genesis Healthcare System) in 1981 and President and Chief of Medical Staff at Bethesda Hospital (now Genesis Healthcare System) in 1988 and President of Muskingum County Medical Academy 1994.

As much as Don loved practicing medicine he thoroughly enjoyed and made the best of his retirement while living in Colonial Country Club in Fort Myers.  He loved playing tennis and golf (never reaching his goal of breaking 90). He and Teresa traveled the world extensively, satisfying his insatiable curiosity and love of history. The weeks spent in S.E. Asia, visiting Vietnam. Laos, Cambodia and Thailand were among his most treasured. He also  loved the many summers living in one of beloved friends Bill and Elizabeth’s Ontario farm houses.  He particularly enjoyed the many trips with them during those years.

Although retired, he never gave up serving others, whether it was doing sports physicals for underserved kids or sleeping in a hammock alongside young medical students and working in the hot sun days on end taking care of the poorest of the poor.

Alzheimer’s took many things from him, but it never stripped him of his care for others. He was legendary in Hospice during his respite stays the last few months, insisting on borrowing a stethoscope to check over the staff, pronouncing one in A-Fib (turns out he was).  He “made hospital rounds” most days when he was up for it, even joining the loving, indulging staff in developing POCs for incoming patients.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Rose Marie Gregory; his daughter, Jennifer Fox; and his siblings, Leo, Louis, Eleanor, Louise, and Tom.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 42 years, Teresa Merz (nee Clardy); children, Leslie (Tim) Molnar, Matthew (Kara) Merz, Jon (Amy) Merz, and Ian (Amber) Merz; son-in-law David Fox, his grandchildren, Madilyn, Michael, Rachael, Zachary, Charlie, Macie, and Trey; many special nieces and nephews and numerous close friends.

No matter who you were to Don, he cared for you as though you were family. He will be dearly missed. Although gone in physical body, his spirit will live on in the form of the gentle kindness he extended toward everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hospice of Cincinnati (https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/donate/)

or

Genesis Healthcare System (https://www.genesishcs.org/our-impact/ways-to-give).

Or

Homeless Hands of Zanesville (http://www.homelesshoz.org)

A Celebration of life will follow at a later date.