Joy Merz was born in Luansha in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) on July 20, 1935, and passed away in the hospital from CoViD-19 on November 23, 2020. That was the start of an international life, while his parents Russell and Ginny Merz lived in many places, including New Jersey, Montana, Wisconsin, California, Africa, and Peru. Joy was indeed an entertaining storyteller, balanced by being a very hard worker. At eighteen, while an MP in the US Army, he married his first wife Erika Melis in Germany. His next wife was Geri W. Merz, with whom he had three daughters, stepdaughter Marie Light and daughters Michele Schneider and Christalina Donovan (husband Don Flynn, grandson Austin Flynn.) The longest love of his life was his wife Nelly Carrasco Ganazo Merz, with whom he had another pair of daughters, Carmela “Lita” Merz and Jennifer Sabol (husband Ryan, and granddaughters Lola and Isabella.). He was predeceased by his brothers, Terry Merz (wife Kitty), and Tony Merz (wife Peggy.)
Joy worked overseas, most notably in Spain and the Philippines, in a career that ranged from Alaska to Texas, also including Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Portugal. His work ranged from a geologist to a mine manager seeking ores typically containing gold, silver, copper, or zinc.
He kept long-term friendships with Reyn and Peter Voevodsky, since meeting Peter in high school in Ojai, California, until Peter’s and Reyn’s passing earlier this year. Despite his travels, Joy kept his roots in Tucson, Arizona, where he earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees, and where he spent his retirement years. He very much enjoyed a party, and his “So Happy It’s Thursday” social club luncheons.
