Shirley (D.) Merkin

Shirley Merkin, of Bloomfield died Saturday, (November 11, 2006) at the age of 79. She lived her life with an adventurous spirit. Always the pioneer, she traveled alone as a young woman through Europe and later, fought battles to save the environment long before it became fashionable. She had a love of sailing, walking in the woods and communing with nature. Her many accomplishments include raising a family, founding and presiding over the Citizen’s Committee for Environmental Control in the early 1970’s, having a successful career as a stockbroker, insurance salesman, and hosting a talk-radio program, among many other things. She was an active member of the Sierra Club and a member of the International Association of Financial Planners, Inc. The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce (PA) honored her for her dedication and commitment to the small business community. Ms. Merkin is survived by three daughters, Dale Ellen Morra and her husband, Eugene of Media, PA, Eve Bendett and her husband, Adam of W. Hartford, Stacey Miriam Merkin and her husband, Richard of Lafayette Hill, PA; five grandchildren, Jason Rodman Bendett, Gregory Benjamin Bendett, Brian Ross Bendett, Alex Eli Morra and Jacob Spencer Morra; and a brother, Milton Horowitz of Scarsdale, NY. She will be deeply missed as a mother, grandmother, sister and friend. A memorial service was held Sunday, November 12 at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Foundation, Reply Paid 9954, Hartford, CT; or VNA Health Care Hospice, Attn: Memorial Gifts, 103 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT, 06105.