Samuel Vaughn Merrick (born on 24 March 1914, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania - 17 April 2000, Medford, New Jersey) was a sailor and preeminent labor lawyer under Presidents

Kennedy Kennedy may refer to: People * John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), 35th president of the United States * John Kennedy (Louisiana politician), (born 1951), US Senator from Louisiana * Kennedy (surname), a family name (including a list of persons with t ...

and Johnson from the United States.

Personal life

In 1947, Merrick was married to

Eleanor Perry Eleanor Perry (née Rosenfeld; nom-de-plume Oliver Weld Bayer, October 13, 1914 – March 14, 1981) was an American screenwriter and author.''Variety'' "Eleanor Perry Obituary" March 17, 1981 Film critic Charles Champlin fondly remembered Perry ...

of Dover, Massachusetts. The couple has three son's John, Gregory and Tad. Sam earned a Bachelor's degree in engineering in 1937 and a

law degree A law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers. But while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not confer a license themselves. A legal license is gra ...

in 1940, both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Professional life

Merrick retired in 1977, after working 35 years in labor and Congressional relations. He was a preeminent labor lawyer under Presidents

and Johnson.

Sailing

Merrick was an accomplished sailor in one-design sailboat races since 1926. He won twice the E-scow Nationals (once in the 1930s and once in the 1980s). In his Soling years he had an intense rivalry and friendship with

Stuart H. Walker Stuart Hodge Walker (April 19, 1923 – November 12, 2018) was an American Olympic yachtsman, writer, and a professor of pediatrics. He competed as a sailor at the Olympic Games; won many national and international championships in different cla ...

. After his retirement Merrick became the (unsalaried) director of the United States Olympic yachting committee. In 1980, he added the title of chairman. He prepared the American Olympic team until the

1980 Summer Olympics boycott The 1980 Summer Olympics boycott was one part of a number of actions initiated by the United States to protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Soviet Union, which hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, and its allies later ...

. After that disappointment for the US sailors Sam started to get sailors to be engaged for competing in the

1984 Olympics The 1984 Olympics may refer to: *The 1984 Winter Olympics, which were held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia *The 1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an intern ...

. Merrick's team was able to win a medal in every of the seven Olympic classes (three gold and four silver Medailles. For this he was awarded the most prestigious award in American sailing, the Nathaniel G. Herreshoff Trophy, in 1984. Sam was president of the International Soling Association from 1987 - 1990.

Death

Sam died at the age of 86 as result of

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of t ...

at his house in Medford, New Jersey.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrick, Samual Vaughn 1914 births 2000 deaths People from Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania American male sailors (sport) University of Pennsylvania alumni Deaths from pancreatic cancer