Mervyn F. Strauss Jr.

Mervyn Frank Strauss, Jr. | August 21, 1925 – March 9, 2026 (age 100)

Mervyn Frank Strauss, Jr., of West Hartford, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, at the age of 100, having lived a full and remarkable century.

Born on August 21, 1925, in San Francisco, California, Mervyn lived a life defined by curiosity, service, and creativity. He proudly served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946 as an Electronics Technician’s Mate, Third Class (ETM(c)3).

After his naval service, Mervyn attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a degree in chemistry. While at UCLA he was active in campus life, taking photographs of campus life for the student newspaper, “The Daily Bruin”, where his lifelong love of photography was first sparked, as well as participating in the ski club. Later, after moving to Connecticut, he continued his education and earned a degree from the University of Hartford in Mechanical Engineering. He was certified and registered by the Connecticut State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors as a Professional Engineer, Land Surveyor, and Landscape Architect.

He went on to build a distinguished career as a forensic engineer and land surveyor. As founder of Strauss Engineering Associates, he was widely respected for his analytical mind, integrity, and expertise. Mervyn was deeply involved in the professional surveying community and was a charter member of the Connecticut Association of Land Surveyors (CALS), serving as its president from 1969 to 1971.

While engineering was his profession, art and photography were some of his great lifelong passions. He loved to tell the story of how he sweet talked his wife, Lois into giving up half of her precious cedar closet in the basement so he could build a wet-darkroom and teach his children, Kathy and Alan how to develop black & white photos in his own darkroom. He continued his love of photography, but Mervyn followed his other creative passion of watercolor painting. He was an accomplished watercolor artist and maintained an active creative life well into his later years, continuing to attend painting classes and work on his art up to his 100th birthday.

When Mervyn wasn’t working professionally or doing one of his creative pursuits, he and Lois were avid sailors. They kept their sailboat moored in Mystic, CT and enjoyed many years of sailing along the Long Island Sound.

His love of art was also expressed through many years of volunteer service as a docent at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford. He greatly enjoyed sharing the museum’s collections with visitors and giving tours to groups of all ages, helping others discover the beauty and stories within the artwork. In his later years, he continued his

connection to the museum by researching and writing articles for the “Docent Dialogue”, contributing his curiosity and thoughtful perspective to the docent community.

Mervyn was also involved with the Farmington Valley Arts Center, taking many painting classes and improving his craft. He was a devoted member of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, CT.

He met the love of his life, Lois Kaufman, at a meeting of the Tall Tippers Club in Los Angeles, California in 1951—a social organization for women 5'10" and over and men 6'2" and taller. Standing 6'4" in his younger days, Mervyn easily met the requirement. Lois attended the meeting as well, though after measuring her height it was discovered she was technically too short at 5'9". The organizers didn’t have the heart to send her away after she had come all that way—and the rest is history.

Mervyn and Lois were married on June 20, 1952 at the Beverly Hills Hotel and honeymooned at the historic Hotel del Coronado. They began their life together in Los Angeles before moving to Connecticut in 1954, where they built a life filled with family, culture, and shared adventures. They loved to travel and especially enjoyed attending the opera and theater, passions that reflected their shared appreciation for the arts.

Mervyn was predeceased by his parents, Mervyn F. Strauss, Sr and Helene Merber Strauss; sister, Sandra Jean Frank, and his beloved wife, Lois Kaufman Strauss, with whom he shared close to 65 years of marriage. He is survived by his daughter, Kathy M. Strauss; his son, Alan M. Strauss (married to Lisa Strauss); his granddaughters, Stephanie Rosen and Jennifer Strauss; and his great-granddaughter, Phoenix Aniyah Crowder.

Having lived a full century, Mervyn remained curious, creative, and engaged with life to the very end. He will be remembered for his sharp intellect, quiet warmth, and enduring love of art and learning. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished and in the many lives he touched throughout his long and meaningful life.

The Celebration of Life ceremonies are as follows:

· Memorial service, on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10:30 am at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119.

· Immediately following the service, interment will take place at Congregation Beth Israel Cemetery, 27 Jackson Street, Avon CT 06001.

· 1:00-3:00pm: Temple Reception following internment at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119. Family and friends are warmly invited to gather and share memories.

· Shiva and open house. The family will also welcome visitors for a Shiva reception on Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at 41 Sequin Road, West Hartford, CT 06117.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mervyn’s name to the following: · Farmington Valley Arts Center. www.artsfvac.org/support or Farmington Valley Arts Center, 25 Arts Center Lane, Avon CT 06001.

· Wadsworth Atheneum Art Museum. 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103. Please designate donation to the docent program.