Obituary of Ralph Merritt

In Loving Memory of Ralph Merritt, Sr. Ralph Merritt, Sr., 89, of Miami, FL, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2025. He was born in 1935 as the youngest of five children (predeceased by Alma, Franklin, Margaret, and Marilyn) in Center Moriches, New York, the son of Christian Merritt and Alma Edwards. Ralph built a life defined by hard work, dedication, and commitment. He was a survivor of the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 and spent his younger years as an oysterman and commercial duck hunter on the Great South Bay of Long Island. At an early age he learned the value of hard work and dedication, learning talents that he would forever use in his career. After moving to Florida, Ralph used his hands-on skills and talents as a craftsman and began his career in construction as a carpenter who could build or fix anything. He then became the construction engineer for Miller Coin Laundries and honed the skills that would later make him a respected general contractor with a lifetime of experience. In 1971, he formally established himself in the field as a licensed general contractor and licensed real estate salesperson and began building commercial warehouses and office buildings that left a lasting mark on South Florida’s landscape building over six million square feet in the area. Outside of his career, Ralph enjoyed the outdoors, and especially the hobbies of fishing, hunting, and traveling. Throughout his life, he found joy in new hobbies which he approached with passion. He started each day with purpose and enthusiasm, and he always exhibited positivity in life with a smile on his face that could not be missed. He was consistently there to lend a helping hand and his generosity was a gift to everyone around him. He is survived by his three children, Ralph Merritt, Jr., Steven Randall Merritt, and Christine Ruppel, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered for his dedication and adventurous spirit as well as the lasting impact he made on those who knew him. Private Cremation. Please keep the Merritt family in your thoughts and prayers. The Joseph A. Scarano Pines Memorial Chapel is Honored to assist the Merritt family with the arrangements.