Winter 2005
PEOPLE
Merritt Athletic Center Dedicated in Celebratory Fashion
By
Sarah Grace Frisch
In an evening laced with lighthearted moments and poignant presentations,
the Alumni Fieldhouse was formally dedicated in August as the Dr. Myrtle
A. Merritt Athletic Center. The renaming was approved by the SUNY
Geneseo College Council and the SUNY Board of Trustees.
Following a dedication ceremony held outside of the Athletic Center, a
reception, dinner and salute to Merritt were held in the new Mary Jemison
Dining Hall. Merritt, a longtime resident of Geneseo, was in attendance,
along with some 200 friends, family members and former colleagues.
"Those of us who taught alongside her were better teachers because
of Myrt," said emerita Joyce Wechsler, a colleague and friend
of Merritt. Wechsler offered remarks at the dedication, as did Megan
Mackey ’98, a Myrtle A. Merritt scholarship recipient and former
student-athlete, and President Christopher C. Dahl.
The fieldhouse now bears the name of Merritt, Professor Emerita of Health,
Physical Education and Recreation, who served the College with distinction
as a faculty member and administrator for thirty years. As a former department
chair, she helped plan both Schrader Gym and the Alumni Fieldhouse. Merritt
is recognized as a pioneer and champion of efforts to expand opportunities
for young women to participate in athletics.
"Myrt’s role in this community leads to everything we believe
a SUNY Geneseo education embodies," said emeritus Fred Bright
at the dinner following the dedication. "She is a role model for
our students, and a true example of generosity at its best. Myrt is somebody
who gives, receives, and then gives back again."
Of the many who offered remarks that evening, one of Merritt’s relatives,
a niece from Iowa, told stories about Merritt’s fishing exploits
and harvesting vegetables on the farm "back home." "And
Aunt Myrt introduced us to rock and roll," she said, recalling that
Merritt gave her her first album, a record by Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
She also recalled Merritt’s photos, slides and videos, taken during
her travels. "Aunt Myrt is an honest, loving and giving person,"
she said.
Emeritus and colleague Paul Hepler said that he had worked with
Merritt since the 1950s, and had always admired her feistiness. "Retirement
didn’t change Myrt," he said. "It just rearranged her schedule."
Emeritus Bright also spoke of Merritt’s long record of service to
the community, including her volunteerism on behalf of the Association
for the Preservation of Geneseo and the Geneseo Garden Club, and remarked
that Merritt had probably "been president of, and on every committee
in the region."
Since her retirement in 1982, Merritt has been one of Geneseo’s
most active volunteer leaders and generous benefactors. Among other gifts
of time and money, Merritt established an endowment for women’s athletics
and funded academic scholarships for many worthy students.
During her remarks at the end of the night, Merritt recalled how Vice
President for College Advancement Art Hatton and Director of Athletics
Marilyn Moore surprised her with the news of the building renaming.
"We were talking, and then (President) Dahl walked in, and, after
some more chitchat, and complimentary remarks, he said, ‘we are going
to rename the Alumni Fieldhouse the Merritt Athletic Center,’"
she recalled. "My response? What! I’m not dead, and, I haven’t
given the College a million dollars!" Merritt added that she thought
it was "conceivable that for a gift of maybe $15,000 or $20,000,
they might name a locker room after me."
During her years at Geneseo, Merritt served as chair of the Department
of Physical Education and directed the women’s intramural program.
Highly respected by her professional colleagues, Merritt was elected to
leadership roles in numerous state, regional and national physical education
organizations throughout her career.
Merritt was the first recipient of the SUNY Geneseo Medal for Philanthropy
in 2002 and earned the Geneseo Foundation’s Meritorious Service Award
in 1992.
Merritt concluded her remarks by speaking of her special relationship
with the current athletic staff, and went on to identify all of the individuals
in the department who were in attendance. "I feel a need to continue
my service to the College, a place I truly love," she concluded.
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Marilyn Moore, director of athletics, offered a welcome at the dedication of the Merritt Athletic Center. |
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Myrtle
A. Merritt scholarship recipient Megan Mackey and Merritt embrace
following the dedication of the Merritt Athletic Center.
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President
Christopher C. Dahl with Merritt, following the dedication.
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Merritt
reviews archival photos with friends and family.
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Merritt
with Art Hatton and Marilyn Moore.
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SUNY
Geneseo Emerita Joyce Wechsler celebrates with Merritt at the reception.
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Merritt
steps out with emeritus Fred Bright.
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Photos
by: Ron Pretzer
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