Merritt H. Mann

From Success to Significance: The Life and Death of Merritt H. Mann, 1937-2025

On April 2, 2025, just 12 days shy of his 88th birthday, the world lost an extraordinary individual. Merritt Howard Mann commenced his journey to heaven at 9:54 p.m. surrounded by his loving family at South Shore Hospital, only five minutes from his home in South Weymouth. He left behind a legacy of love, kindness, gratitude, and an unwavering devotion to God. Merritt truly embodied the ideals of a devoted Christian servant in all aspects of his life; living in harmony with God’s purposes for all who seek to faithfully follow Christ.

Merritt was born in the city of Boston, MA on April 14, 1937, to Cora (Herschaft) and Edward S. Mann. He grew up in Wollaston, attending North Quincy High School and then Eastern Nazarene College (ENC), where his father served as president from 1948-1970. He was a member of ENC’s first inter-collegiate basketball team in 1958, experiencing only one loss in the two years he played. After graduating from ENC in 1959, Merritt began a successful career with IBM in which he first served as a systems engineer on the Mercury space program and later directed marketing efforts for IBM with the federal government that were among the most lucrative in the history of the company.

While at IBM, Merritt turned down several opportunities for career advancement to maintain a healthy balance between his professional and personal commitments. The focus of his life was unquestionably his family. He married Judith Andree on August 1, 1964, nine months after getting to know her at the 1963 ENC homecoming, when they had their first date. They faithfully lived out their marriage vows, raising a family and serving others with love and compassion for over 60 years.

Throughout his life, Merritt was an active member of the Church of the Nazarene, filling a variety of positions of leadership and service at the local, district, regional and international levels. Following his retirement from IBM in 1991, it was no surprise to family and friends when he accepted a position to fundraise and oversee development projects for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries—the arm of the Nazarene Church dedicated to humanitarian activities throughout the world. He continued supporting these ministries well into his second retirement and was working to raise money for a hospital and nursing school in India all the way up to the January 2025 stroke that would eventually lead to his passing.

Merritt was also an active supporter of his alma mater, serving for decades on both the Alumni Council and Board of Trustees. His final years were also spent working at the Weathervane Golf Course near his home in South Weymouth because he really enjoyed meeting people. He worked at the course until shortly before his passing.

Merritt’s greatest joy was his family, especially spending time with them up at “Boppa’s Beach” on Lake Champlain in South Hero, VT. He was a model of faith and service for his two sons, both of whom are ordained ministers in the Church of the Nazarene. Mark and his wife Melissa have four children—Naomi (21), Mark Nathaniel (18), Madeleine (18), and Norah (18)—and live in San Diego, CA where Mark is Professor of Theology at Point Loma Nazarene University. Doug is pastor of the Büsingen International Church of the Nazarene and Director of Finance for the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene. He lives in Büsingen, Germany with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children—Jonathan (18), Sarah (16), and James (14). In his later years, Merritt could often be found wearing a t-shirt stating: ‘All of My Favorite People Call Me Boppa’—the term of endearment for him used by his seven grandchildren. He dearly loved them.

Merritt was preceded in returning to the Lord by his older brother Edward and is survived by his younger brothers Robert (Arlington, TX) and Richard (Quincy, MA), and his nephews and nieces (David, Laurie, Jennifer, Eric, Brad and Courtney) and their families, all of whom were dear to Merritt.

A celebration of Merritt’s life will take place on July 27, 2025, in Quincy, MA at the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene—his home parish for most of his life. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, those wishing to make a donation in his name may contribute to the Merritt and Judy Mann Donor Advised Fund with the Nazarene Foundation, established by Merritt and Judy and overseen by his sons, to continue supporting missions and humanitarian projects in Eurasia and Africa that were dear to him. Tax deductible donations may be sent to:

By Check:
Church of the Nazarene Foundation
17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Ste. 200
Lenexa, KS 66220
*Make checks payable to the Church of the Nazarene Foundation. Please write “Mann Family Foundation” in the memo line.
Online giving:
https://cnf.nazarenefoundation.org/donate_now
*To give to the donor-advised fund, please select “Other – please specify below” in the drop-down menu and write in a designation: “Mann Family Foundation”