Obituary of Dr. Ann Merlino

Dr. Ann Merlino, a retired Dean of the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, an exceptional volunteer, a Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement, a beloved family member and a true friend passed away on April 19, 2024 at the age of 85.

Dr. Merlino was the youngest daughter in a family of 12 children.  Her parents immigrated to New York City from Naples, Italy.  She was born in Staten Island and graduated from Port Richmond High School where she was active in many extracurricular activities while there and was later inducted into their Hall of Fame.

As a young student she had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and

U. N. Ambassador Ralph Bunche. She was awarded a scholarship to New York University where she received her B.A., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.  She went on to serve as a professor in and then the Chairperson of the Dept. of Biology at C.S.I. before her appointment as Dean of External Relations and Recruitment. When she was elected chairperson of the Biology Department, she was the youngest chairperson in the university.

She initiated Scholarship Programs at the College to assist students in need and was the recipient of many grants and awards to support programs in the Health Sciences, Health Careers and Freshman Programs, including the B.S. Nursing Degree program.

She established a Minority Faculty Committee to assist in the CSI Outreach program and established a CSI/Minority Community Advisory Committee and Council on Educational Opportunity.  She was widely recognized for developing programs that encouraged career mobility for returning adults and for promoting health awareness issues among young people, the disadvantaged, women, and minorities.

Professionally, Dr. Merlino published articles and addressed national and international conferences.  Although retired, as an active volunteer, she wrote grant proposals seeking scholarships and support funds for volunteer organizations.

An activist for many educational and community concerns, she addressed legislative committees on issues affecting education, health, environment, and the arts and was 

often selected as a representative for national and international conferences. Dr. Merlino served on numerous important City and State Commissions and Task Forces, and on Boards and Executive Committees of civic, charitable, education and health service organizations, and museums and hospitals.  She was a featured keynote speaker to the NYC Commission on Human Rights and was interviewed as a NYC representative for a response to the surgeon-general’s report on smoking.

When the Italian Government began its count-down to the Millennium with a conference on “Italians Abroad,” it was Dr. Ann Merlino who was invited as a representative from the United States to address the international conference on “The Italian-American Woman.” 

On behalf of the Women in Science Committee of the New York Academy of Science, she was the American representative and addressed an international conference in Hungary on “The Role of Women in the History of Science, Medicine and Technology.

Dr. Merlino was appointed by the Borough President to the SI 350 Committee to develop a year-long celebration in honor of Staten Island’s 350^th anniversary. She served on several sub-committees and chaired the Port Richmond “Memories” Program.

Dr. Merlino was a Congressional appointee White House Conference on Aging. This required two years of conferences and planning prior to the Washington meeting. These reports were presented to Congress.

She was invited to Washington when the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, addressed the combined houses of Congress.  She served on the New York City Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, to which she was appointed by Mayors Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani  well as the New York State Board of Examiners appointed by the NY State Commissioner of Health and Governor Mario Cuomo.

Her involvement in the community also included:

The American Cancer Society, SeniorNet of S.I., S.I. Employment Education Consortium, American Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Association, Soroptimist International of

Staten Island, the American Committee on Italian Migration, Delta Kappa Gamma          

Education Honor Society; Order of Sons of Italy in America; Italian Gardens of the S.I. Botanical Garden, Fr. James Cappodanno Lodge, Protectors of Pine Oaks, Bella Italia Mia and the Pirandello Society of America, Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, Snug Harbor Botanical Gardens Cultural Center, the CSI Academy of Retired Professors, Sea View Home & Hospital Auxiliary, S.I. Institute of Arts and Sciences, The Visiting Nurses Assoc., Bayley Seton Advisory Board, Tri-State Italian American Congress, NYS Sons of Italy Grand Lodge Foundation Board, Tobacco-Free Action Coalition, the Center for Migration Studies, , and the Goodhue Children’s Center.

HONORS

Dr. Merlino has been honored by community, professional, cultural, and ethnic organizations for her volunteer service and professional achievements.

She is a Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement, she received the American Cancer Society’s highest national award for service, “The St. George Medal”, and she is a recipient of the prestigious national  “Points of Light” Award for Volunteer Service established by President George Bush, Sr. to recognize “ordinary people who reach beyond themselves to the lives of those in need,” 

Dr. Merlino was awarded the rank of “Cavalieri,” knighted by the President of Italy into the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy.

 She was recognized as a “Catholic New Yorker of the Week,” in the publication Catholic New York.

Upon retirement from CUNY, Dr. Merlino learned that the NYC Teachers Retirement System invested heavily in Tobacco companies. After many years of involvement with the American Cancer Society, she challenged every Director and official of the retirement system, and sought the assistance of local, city and state elected officials to withdraw pension fund support from the Tobacco industry.

Dr. Merlino is survived by her sisters, Dr. Lina Merlino, Elisa Iannacone and Viola Huston and brothers, Gino and Dr. John Merlino as well as many, many beloved nieces, and nephews.  She is predeceased by her mother and father, Filomena and Gioacchino Merlino, her sisters Rose Briganti and Ida Merlino and her brothers, Rudy, Dr. Mario, Aldo, and Robert Merlino.

Her intelligence, compassion, elegant style, work ethic and tremendous sense of volunteerism will always be remembered by those whom she worked along with.  She will be missed by friends and family.

Funeral arrangements through the Matthew Funeral Home, Willowbrook with visitation on Monday from 2pm to 8pm. A funeral mass will take place on Tuesday at 12 noon at St. Roch’s Church, Port Richmond.