1951
Joseph
2016
Joseph J. Merli
January 26, 1951 — February 13, 2016
Joseph J. Merli Obituary
Joseph J. Merli, a lifelong resident of Duanesburg who was dedicated to the preservation of our American heritage, passed away Saturday February 13, 2016 at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY. He was 65.
Joe was born January 26, 1951 to the late Julius Merli and Jean Dodici Merli. He graduated from Duanesbug High School and had the honor of being placed on the Duanesburg Hall of Fame at the school for his generous donations. Joe was a very unique, friendly and compassionate individual. The element of time was insignificant in Joe’s life, most evidenced by his common practice of dropping what he was doing, regardless of its’ importance, to help a friend with a problem no matter how long it took and ask for nothing in return. It has been said he was one of the most human of human beings.
His lifelong accomplishments are many. He owned and operated an auto body business by the age of 17. He owned a successful excavation business for many years before he began constructing reproduction railroad baggage wagons and Victorian push carts from the early 19th century for retail marketing displays. His products can be found from Disney World in Florida to supermarkets in California and all points in between.
He restored his beloved 1904 Curved Dash Oldsmobile in the early 1980’s and after achieving the Antique Automobile Club of America’s highest award with it, joined two curved dash Olds friends to re-enact a San Francisco to New York trip originally completed in 1903. Joe’s passion for R.E. Olds and everything Oldsmobile is well known among his friends. He embarked on a project to build one of each prototype vehicle that R.E. Olds built prior to 1900. Two of these vehicles are now at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing, MI. His early Oldsmobile knowledge was legendary. His life was rich in friends and customers worldwide.
His passion for preserving the industrial history of Schenectady resulted in the creation of Canal Street Station Railroad Village, a multi-building re-creation of the architecture and style of early 1900’s industry. Within the Village he placed and restored a 1950’s era diesel locomotive, a railroad maintenance tool building relocated from the Village of Delanson, constructed a general store with furnishings from the contents of the former Wallace Armer hardware store in Schenectady, and a 1941 Silk City diner – the former 9 & 20 diner from Schodack. He organized an annual Fall Festival held at this site which showcased antique cars, antique gas engines, early American crafts and re-enactments of American industrial trades for the education of public of forgotten times. He organized an annual “Christmas Train Express” event that was held in conjunction with the CP Rail Holiday Train that stopped in Delanson to gather donations for the local food pantry and Toys for Tots campaign.
Joe had a deep respect and love for Jay Leno, faithfully watching his “Tonight Show” program for many years. He began communication with Jay via email and embarked a few years ago on the creation of a very unique gift for Jay: an approximate ½ scale steam traction engine with integrated gas grill. His illness hindered the completion of the project but with the help of many friends it will be completed and delivered to Jay at his Burbank, CA garage. Joe finally met Jay last year while attending Jay’s comedy show held at Proctor’s Theater and as a result Jay has become a true friend, calling Joe frequently to encourage him and see how he was doing.
Joe was an accomplished drummer and member of a local band for many years. He was a talented designer and engineer. If he could draw it on paper, he could build it from scratch. He could fix anything, his motto being “if it was built once, it can be built again”. It didn’t matter how broken it was. He rebuilt the VanHeusen Charles clock owned by and displayed at the Altamont Fair after it crashed into nothing but pieces. He loved the challenge of figuring it out and reconstructing it.
He was a much respected member of many organizations: Curved Dash Oldsmobile Club, Antique Automobile Club of America, National Antique Oldsmobile Club, Oldsmobile Club of America, Antique Electric Vehicle Club, Hudson Mohawk Chapter Pioneer Gas Engine Association, the Bridge Line Historic Society, Duanesburg Historical Society, and the Altamont Fair where he was superintendent of the 1890 Carriage Museum building.
In 1905, Gus Edwards penned the lyrics that Billy Murray sang in the song “In My Merry Oldsmobile”, and while the premise of the song is two lovers riding in a curved dash Oldsmobile, a portion of the chorus is appropriate to mention: …In my merry Oldsmobile, down the road of life we’ll fly…. Joe, it was so much more than an honor to experience life with you, from your early 1900’s perspective. This modern world will miss you incredibly. Enjoy the infinite trip ahead of you, guided by your tiller and listening to the sweet music of the perpetual “chuff chuff chuff” from the tailpipe.
Joe was pre-deceased by his brother Frank Merli. He is survived by his companion and soul mate of 32 years Marilyn Miles, her daughter Brenda (Sean) Dwyer and son Jerry (LoriAnn) Miles, his sister Kathleen Paul of Sunrise FL, his sister-in-law Margaret Merli of Pittsford, NY, his nephews Robert Merli, of St. Louis, MO and David Merli of Lancaster, PA and niece Kimberly Paul of Ramsey, NJ as well as many cousins and dear close friends.
Calling hours will be 2 – 6 PM Saturday, February 20 at White-Van Buren Funeral Home, Delanson, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Schenectady Cancer Foundation, 1509 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12309 or The Buffalo Hope Lodge, 197 Summer Street, Buffalo, NY 14222.
GRAVESIDE SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2016 AT 2 PM GROVE CEMETERY ROUTE 395 QUAKER STREET NY . FAMILY AND FREINDS WILL GATHER AT THE WHITE VANBUREN AT 1PM FOR A FORMAL PROCESSION TO THE CEMETERY.
Joseph J. Merli, a lifelong resident of Duanesburg who was dedicated to the preservation of our American heritage, passed away Saturday February 13, 2016 at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY. He was 65.
Joe was born January 26, 1951 to the late Julius Merli and Jean Dodici Merli. He graduated from Duanesbug High School and had the honor of being placed on the Duanesburg Hall of Fame at the school for his generous donations. Joe was a very unique, friendly and compassionate individual. The element of time was insignificant in Joe’s life, most evidenced by his common practice of dropping what he was doing, regardless of its’ importance, to help a friend with a problem no matter how long it took and ask for nothing in return. It has been said he was one of the most human of human beings.
His lifelong accomplishments are many. He owned and operated an auto body business by the age of 17. He owned a successful excavation business for many years before he began constructing reproduction railroad baggage wagons and Victorian push carts from the early 19th century for retail marketing displays. His products can be found from Disney World in Florida to supermarkets in California and all points in between.
He restored his beloved 1904 Curved Dash Oldsmobile in the early 1980’s and after achieving the Antique Automobile Club of America’s highest award with it, joined two curved dash Olds friends to re-enact a San Francisco to New York trip originally completed in 1903. Joe’s passion for R.E. Olds and everything Oldsmobile is well known among his friends. He embarked on a project to build one of each prototype vehicle that R.E. Olds built prior to 1900. Two of these vehicles are now at the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing, MI. His early Oldsmobile knowledge was legendary. His life was rich in friends and customers worldwide.
His passion for preserving the industrial history of Schenectady resulted in the creation of Canal Street Station Railroad Village, a multi-building re-creation of the architecture and style of early 1900’s industry. Within the Village he placed and restored a 1950’s era diesel locomotive, a railroad maintenance tool building relocated from the Village of Delanson, constructed a general store with furnishings from the contents of the former Wallace Armer hardware store in Schenectady, and a 1941 Silk City diner – the former 9 & 20 diner from Schodack. He organized an annual Fall Festival held at this site which showcased antique cars, antique gas engines, early American crafts and re-enactments of American industrial trades for the education of public of forgotten times. He organized an annual “Christmas Train Express” event that was held in conjunction with the CP Rail Holiday Train that stopped in Delanson to gather donations for the local food pantry and Toys for Tots campaign.
Joe had a deep respect and love for Jay Leno, faithfully watching his “Tonight Show” program for many years. He began communication with Jay via email and embarked a few years ago on the creation of a very unique gift for Jay: an approximate ½ scale steam traction engine with integrated gas grill. His illness hindered the completion of the project but with the help of many friends it will be completed and delivered to Jay at his Burbank, CA garage. Joe finally met Jay last year while attending Jay’s comedy show held at Proctor’s Theater and as a result Jay has become a true friend, calling Joe frequently to encourage him and see how he was doing.
Joe was an accomplished drummer and member of a local band for many years. He was a talented designer and engineer. If he could draw it on paper, he could build it from scratch. He could fix anything, his motto being “if it was built once, it can be built again”. It didn’t matter how broken it was. He rebuilt the VanHeusen Charles clock owned by and displayed at the Altamont Fair after it crashed into nothing but pieces. He loved the challenge of figuring it out and reconstructing it.
He was a much respected member of many organizations: Curved Dash Oldsmobile Club, Antique Automobile Club of America, National Antique Oldsmobile Club, Oldsmobile Club of America, Antique Electric Vehicle Club, Hudson Mohawk Chapter Pioneer Gas Engine Association, the Bridge Line Historic Society, Duanesburg Historical Society, and the Altamont Fair where he was superintendent of the 1890 Carriage Museum building.
In 1905, Gus Edwards penned the lyrics that Billy Murray sang in the song “In My Merry Oldsmobile”, and while the premise of the song is two lovers riding in a curved dash Oldsmobile, a portion of the chorus is appropriate to mention: …In my merry Oldsmobile, down the road of life we’ll fly…. Joe, it was so much more than an honor to experience life with you, from your early 1900’s perspective. This modern world will miss you incredibly. Enjoy the infinite trip ahead of you, guided by your tiller and listening to the sweet music of the perpetual “chuff chuff chuff” from the tailpipe.
Joe was pre-deceased by his brother Frank Merli. He is survived by his companion and soul mate of 32 years Marilyn Miles, her daughter Brenda (Sean) Dwyer and son Jerry (LoriAnn) Miles, his sister Kathleen Paul of Sunrise FL, his sister-in-law Margaret Merli of Pittsford, NY, his nephews Robert Merli, of St. Louis, MO and David Merli of Lancaster, PA and niece Kimberly Paul of Ramsey, NJ as well as many cousins and dear close friends.
Calling hours will be 2 – 6 PM Saturday, February 20 at White-Van Buren Funeral Home, Delanson, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Schenectady Cancer Foundation, 1509 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12309 or The Buffalo Hope Lodge, 197 Summer Street, Buffalo, NY 14222.
GRAVESIDE SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2016 AT 2 PM GROVE CEMETERY ROUTE 395 QUAKER STREET NY . FAMILY AND FREINDS WILL GATHER AT THE WHITE VANBUREN AT 1PM FOR A FORMAL PROCESSION TO THE CEMETERY.
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