Ed School Mourns Loss of Albert Merck

The Harvard Graduate School of Education community is mourning the loss of longtime supporter and educator Albert Merck, who passed away in his Lexington, Massachusetts, home recently at the age of 93. Merck devoted much of his life to public service working in politics, education, and philanthropy. His generous contributions to the Harvard Graduate School of Education led to the creation of WIDE World and helped support other efforts such as Project on the Next Generation of Teachers and Usable Knowledge.

“Many of us in the HGSE community are deeply saddened by the loss of our longtime friend and fellow champion for education, Al Merck. Al will be remembered for his warmth, his wit, and his great passion for education,” said Dean James Ryan. “His incredible generosity has left an unparalleled legacy here at HGSE. Al’s support for WIDE World and so many other projects has made a difference not just at Harvard, but for students around the world. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.”

Graduating from Harvard College in the late 1940s, Merck began his career working for his family’s pharmaceutical company, Merck & Co., but by the 1960s, ultimately explored his interest in education. He earned master’s degrees from Columbia University, Teachers College, and Rutgers University. Though he continued to serve on the Merck & Co. board of directors until his retirement in 1993, he also worked as an educator teaching political science at Rutgers and Drew Universities.

During the 1970s, Merck served a term in the New Jersey legislature as the Republican representative for Morris County.

His passion for education, particularly K-12 education and online learning, made him incredibly active in higher education. During the 1980s, Merck served as chair of the New Jersey Board of Higher Education.

At the Ed School, Merck provided funding to create WIDE World, an innovative professional development program that continues to reach thousands of educators each year.

At the Ed School, Merck provided funding to create WIDE World, an innovative professional development program that continues to reach thousands of educators each year.

“Several colleagues and I launched WIDE World as a research and development initiative, guiding it through multiple versions over a period of a decade. Throughout this period, Al and [his wife] Kate offered essential financial support. There is no doubt that WIDE World would not exist today were it not for their commitment,” said Professor David Perkins. “However, their contribution was more than financial. It was also advisory, in a marvelously unintrusive but substantive way, helping us to expand WIDE World to reach more educators with more impact.”

Merck was an avid supporter of Harvard, where he served on the HGSE Visiting Committee, the Committee on University Resources, the HAA board, and HGSE Technology Advisory Committee.

Outside of HGSE, he was an active philanthropist and volunteer. He served on numerous state boards in New Jersey. He was also involved with the Regional Plan Association of New York and New Jersey and is a former trustee of the New Jersey Historical Society, Bonnie Brae School for Boys, Newark State College (now Kean University), Westminster Choir College, Drew University, and St. George’s School.

Merck was predeceased by his daughter Katharine, and is survived by his wife Katharine; his son, Albert, in California; Friedrike Merck of Bearsville, N.Y.; Patience Chamberlin of Exeter, N.H.; and Wilhelm Merck of Hamilton, Mass. He had eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.