Obituary of Bernard D. Mericle

Bernard D. Mericle beloved husband of Claudia Quinby Mericle went to be with the Lord on February 24th. Born May 7, 1940. He was the son of the late Bernard K. Mericle and Mildred Tygert Mericle. When he learned as a small boy that he could earn a bible by selling vegetable seeds in his home town, he happily walked the country roads knocking on his neighbor’s doors. He learned early to be kind and helpful to others as he read his bible and believed strongly the words of the Lord. Bernie loves the Lord. Bernie was a graduate of Duanesburg Central High School in 1957 and continued his education enlisting in the United States Navy. He studied Aviation Electronics and was assigned duty to various U.S. Naval Air Stations and the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa. He was later assigned to the Fleet Tactical Support Squadron 1, U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River Maryland as a flight crew member and from where he later was honorably discharged. After his discharge from the Navy he joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 166, Schenectady, NY which he retired from in 2000. He served on the Executive Board and was elected to the position of Business Manager in 1977 and was Administrator & Trustee of the Pension & Annuity funds. He represented commercial and residential electricians, Channel 10 television photographers and technicians, Taconic Telephone, GE service Techs, Schenectady City and Skidmore College Electricians. Bernie completed studies from Cornell University NYS School of Industrial & Labor relations and was instrumental in legislation and economic development on both the local & national level for many years. He was a member of the City of Schenectady Electrical Licensing Board, Urban Cultural Committee, Licensing Task Force, Senior Task Force. He was a member of the Tri City Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and training committee, President of Building & Construction Trades Council. A member of the NYS Building Trades Council, Association of Electrical Workers, Director of the Blue Line Council, Overseeing development in the Adirondack Parks, appointed by Congressmen Paul Tanko to the Mohawk Valley Task Force for Economic Development, member of NYS Compensation Advisory Board and served on the Practice and Procedure Committee, appointed by the Governor to the Blue Ribbon Unemployment Insurance Panel. He was Chairman of the Scotia Democratic Committee, the Scotia-Glenville Central High School Task Force. He was a member of the IBEW Political Action Committee. He was appointed by the International President of the IBEW to the NEC Panel #2 to revise the National Electrical Code book and to the International Council of Industrial Relations where he served as Co-Chairman on the IBEW Arbitration Panel in Washington D.C. Vice President of the Schenectady Central Labor Council, member of Schenectady Private Industry Council & County Economic Development Advisory Board, Habitat of Humanity, Schenectady Metroplex Authority & Industrial Development Agency, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Capital District Hospice. Bernie received the Israel Labor Medal for outstanding leadership in the labor movement. He received the recognition award from the Schenectady Central Labor Council for outstanding leadership in the labor movement. He was a member of the Northeast Wood Turners Association and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a communicant of the First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Claudia, their 3 daughters, Sheri Mericle Nietfeld (James), Jill Mericle Walsh (Patrick), Susan Mericle Zoller (Jason) and 8 grandchildren, Michelle Nietfeld, Michael Nietfeld, Kristen Walsh Holub (Matthew), Thomas Walsh, Jacqueline Walsh Burkhardt (Andrew), Matthew Zoller, Sarah Zoller, Luke Zoller and 2 great grandchildren, Logan Burkhardt & Everett Holub. He is survived by his sister Beverly Mericle Neadle (Leon), his brother Dean Mericle (Sharon) and their children. Memorial contributions may be made in Bernie’s name to First Presbyterian Church, Union St., Schenectady, NY. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1 at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd., Glenville, Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 on Thursday, March 2 at First Presbyterian Church, Union St., Schenectady, NY., followed by a burial with military honors at Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY