Nicholas Mercede
February 16, 1927 — January 19, 2018
Nicholas J. Mercede, 90, passed away Friday, January 19, 2018 at Stamford Hospital with his family by his side. Born in Stamford, February 16, 1927 he was the son of the late Frank and Anna Sacco Mercede.
Nicholas J. Mercede has proven, through his commitment to various organizations, his community and his family, that one man can make a difference. Although charity may begin at home, his dedication to make the world a better place extends beyond the local level. A native of Stamford, Nicholas graduated from Stamford High School in 1945 and attended the University of Bridgeport in the engineering school before joining the United States Navy. Upon his discharge in 1948, he joined Frank Mercede & Sons, Inc., the Stamford-based construction company that his father, Frank Sr. founded in 1927. In 1970, he became President and Chairman of the Board. He married the former Anita Louise Wallace in 1949 and they have two children, Frank Joseph Mercede and Barbara Anne Pierce, along with eight grandchildren. Mr. Mercede has been involved with various organizations over many years. He was a former member on the Board of Directors for the Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford, Stamford Health Foundation, Bi-Cultural School, United Way, Connecticut National Bank, Bank of Darien, Ferguson Library, Stamford Economic Assistance Corporation, and the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Mr. Mercede has also sought to build lives by making contributions to an endless number of charities through his lifetime including the Boys Town of Italy, the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford, Norwalk Hospital and the Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center. Mr. Mercede is most proud of the fact that he was one of the “original five” which made it possible for the Italian Center to move from its small downtown Stamford location to its present 27-acre facility on Newfield Avenue. He served on its Board of Directors from 1956-1986 was the President of the Board from 1958-1960 and has been on its Advisory Board since 1986. In 1961, Governor John Dempsey appointed Mr. Mercede to the Board of Trustees of Fairfield Hills Hospital on which he served for a term of twelve years to 1973. In 1962, Mr. Mercede supervised the fabrication, the installation and donated to the statue of Christopher Columbus, which now stands in Columbus Park in the City of Stamford. In 1986, Mr. Mercede was bestowed the order of Knight of St Gregory, one of five pontifical orders of knighthood and the highest honor given to a layperson of the Catholic Church. The order is bestowed on Catholic men and women in recognition of their service to the Church, unusual labors, support of the Holy See, and the good example set in their communities and country. He received his cross from then Bishop Richard Egan, who said, "Accept this cross and the call to apostolic service which it signifies." In 2000, The Stamford Hospital named the Nicholas & Anita Mercede Mother and Baby Unit after he and his wife’s generous contribution. In 2002, The Italian Center dedicated its new elevator to Mr. Mercede after his generous donation. In 2006, Mr. Mercede donated a refurbished Fire Engine to the town of Henry, LA who was hard hit by Hurricane Rita. Mr. Mercede had purchased the fire engine eight years earlier as a donation to the Newbrook Fire Department of Newfane VT to enable them to purchase a more modern fire engine for their department. In 2007, Mr. Mercede celebrated Frank Mercede & Sons, Inc.’s 80th year of business as well as his 80th birthday and was honored by many of his family, friends and business associates including his long-time friends Former Bishop Basil Losten of Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford, Father George Poulos of the Church of the Archangels, Mort Scheraga of the Bi-Cultural School and the late Frank D. Rich, Jr.In 2008, Mr. Mercede and his wife Anita founded the “The Nicholas and Anita Mercede Family Foundation” which donated $250,000 to the American Cancer Society Regional Center, C. Anthony and Jean Whittingham Family Building in Norwalk, CT. The Nicholas and Anita Quality of Life Center is used for support groups, professional and volunteer training and symposiums. In the same year, the Foundation also made a large donation to the Stamford Center for the Arts.In 2009, Mr. Mercede (Class of 1946) was inducted into the Stamford High School’s Wall of Fame which was unveiled in 1998 to acknowledge graduates who have made a significant contribution to their field and to the community as well as to inspire current students to higher goals ideals and “an attitude of success. In April 2011, Mr. Mercede was honored as “Man of the Year at the Boys’ Towns of Italy Ball at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Young people from 18 countries arrive at one of two campuses where they become citizens along with schooling and vocational training develop vital skills needed to integrate into and contribute to society as self-reliant adults.
Nicholas is survived by his devoted loving children, Frank J. Mercede and his wife Lori, Barbara Pierce and her husband Joseph, his grandchildren, Heather Giannone and her husband Peter, Kathryn Mehok and her husband Michael, Lauren Sailor and her husband Danny, Ryan Pierce and his wife Christina, R.J. Mercede and his wife Erin, Kelly Pierce, Nicola Mercede and Jaclyn Mercede, as well as his great grandchildren, Imogen Pierce, Bradley Mehok, Grayson Sailor, Henry Sailor, and Tyler Mehok, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents he was predeceased by his wife Anita Wallace Mercede, his siblings John Mercede, Frank Mercede Jr., and Janice Comis.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. Leo’s Parish, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford. Interment will follow at Long Ridge Union Cemetery, Erskine Road, Stamford. Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 from 4:00-8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Nick’s memory to the C. Anthony and Jean Whittingham Cancer Center, 34 Maple St, Norwalk, CT 06856. https://www.norwalkhospital.org/support-norwalk-hospital/ways-to-give/give-online-now
To leave online condolences, please visit www.Cognetta.com
Nicholas J. Mercede has proven, through his commitment to various organizations, his community and his family, that one man can make a difference. Although charity may begin at home, his dedication to make the world a better place extends beyond the local level. A native of Stamford, Nicholas graduated from Stamford High School in 1945 and attended the University of Bridgeport in the engineering school before joining the United States Navy. Upon his discharge in 1948, he joined Frank Mercede & Sons, Inc., the Stamford-based construction company that his father, Frank Sr. founded in 1927. In 1970, he became President and Chairman of the Board. He married the former Anita Louise Wallace in 1949 and they have two children, Frank Joseph Mercede and Barbara Anne Pierce, along with eight grandchildren. Mr. Mercede has been involved with various organizations over many years. He was a former member on the Board of Directors for the Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford, Stamford Health Foundation, Bi-Cultural School, United Way, Connecticut National Bank, Bank of Darien, Ferguson Library, Stamford Economic Assistance Corporation, and the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Mr. Mercede has also sought to build lives by making contributions to an endless number of charities through his lifetime including the Boys Town of Italy, the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford, Norwalk Hospital and the Carl & Dorothy Bennett Cancer Center. Mr. Mercede is most proud of the fact that he was one of the “original five” which made it possible for the Italian Center to move from its small downtown Stamford location to its present 27-acre facility on Newfield Avenue. He served on its Board of Directors from 1956-1986 was the President of the Board from 1958-1960 and has been on its Advisory Board since 1986. In 1961, Governor John Dempsey appointed Mr. Mercede to the Board of Trustees of Fairfield Hills Hospital on which he served for a term of twelve years to 1973. In 1962, Mr. Mercede supervised the fabrication, the installation and donated to the statue of Christopher Columbus, which now stands in Columbus Park in the City of Stamford. In 1986, Mr. Mercede was bestowed the order of Knight of St Gregory, one of five pontifical orders of knighthood and the highest honor given to a layperson of the Catholic Church. The order is bestowed on Catholic men and women in recognition of their service to the Church, unusual labors, support of the Holy See, and the good example set in their communities and country. He received his cross from then Bishop Richard Egan, who said, "Accept this cross and the call to apostolic service which it signifies." In 2000, The Stamford Hospital named the Nicholas & Anita Mercede Mother and Baby Unit after he and his wife’s generous contribution. In 2002, The Italian Center dedicated its new elevator to Mr. Mercede after his generous donation. In 2006, Mr. Mercede donated a refurbished Fire Engine to the town of Henry, LA who was hard hit by Hurricane Rita. Mr. Mercede had purchased the fire engine eight years earlier as a donation to the Newbrook Fire Department of Newfane VT to enable them to purchase a more modern fire engine for their department. In 2007, Mr. Mercede celebrated Frank Mercede & Sons, Inc.’s 80th year of business as well as his 80th birthday and was honored by many of his family, friends and business associates including his long-time friends Former Bishop Basil Losten of Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford, Father George Poulos of the Church of the Archangels, Mort Scheraga of the Bi-Cultural School and the late Frank D. Rich, Jr.In 2008, Mr. Mercede and his wife Anita founded the “The Nicholas and Anita Mercede Family Foundation” which donated $250,000 to the American Cancer Society Regional Center, C. Anthony and Jean Whittingham Family Building in Norwalk, CT. The Nicholas and Anita Quality of Life Center is used for support groups, professional and volunteer training and symposiums. In the same year, the Foundation also made a large donation to the Stamford Center for the Arts.In 2009, Mr. Mercede (Class of 1946) was inducted into the Stamford High School’s Wall of Fame which was unveiled in 1998 to acknowledge graduates who have made a significant contribution to their field and to the community as well as to inspire current students to higher goals ideals and “an attitude of success. In April 2011, Mr. Mercede was honored as “Man of the Year at the Boys’ Towns of Italy Ball at the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Young people from 18 countries arrive at one of two campuses where they become citizens along with schooling and vocational training develop vital skills needed to integrate into and contribute to society as self-reliant adults.
Nicholas is survived by his devoted loving children, Frank J. Mercede and his wife Lori, Barbara Pierce and her husband Joseph, his grandchildren, Heather Giannone and her husband Peter, Kathryn Mehok and her husband Michael, Lauren Sailor and her husband Danny, Ryan Pierce and his wife Christina, R.J. Mercede and his wife Erin, Kelly Pierce, Nicola Mercede and Jaclyn Mercede, as well as his great grandchildren, Imogen Pierce, Bradley Mehok, Grayson Sailor, Henry Sailor, and Tyler Mehok, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents he was predeceased by his wife Anita Wallace Mercede, his siblings John Mercede, Frank Mercede Jr., and Janice Comis.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM at St. Leo’s Parish, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford. Interment will follow at Long Ridge Union Cemetery, Erskine Road, Stamford. Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 from 4:00-8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Nick’s memory to the C. Anthony and Jean Whittingham Cancer Center, 34 Maple St, Norwalk, CT 06856. https://www.norwalkhospital.org/support-norwalk-hospital/ways-to-give/give-online-now
To leave online condolences, please visit www.Cognetta.com
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