July 19, 1927 – May 5, 2024
Eleanor N. (Nigro) Merrill, a longtime resident of Reading and formerly of Augusta, Maine, passed away at the age of ninety-six on May 5, 2024, after a brief illness. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Eugene A. and Mary L. (Tecce) Nigro. Eleanor (Ellie) was the beloved wife of the late Edgar J. Merrill, of Augusta, Maine.
After Ellie graduated from Reading Memorial High School in 1945, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in history from Boston University (BU) in 1949. It was at BU that Ellie met her husband, Edgar, whom she married in 1953. After college she worked for many years in the field of education in Westfield, Methuen, and Augusta, Maine, where she and Edgar moved after he was appointed the State Director of Child Welfare services. In Maine, Ellie taught at the Lou M. Buker Intermediate School and Hodgkins Middle School. Later, she completed her Master’s Degree in Education at Southern Maine University. Ellie spent the last five years of her educational career working as a district-wide school counselor for all of the elementary schools in Augusta. She was instrumental in assisting the district in evaluating and meeting the varied learning needs of all of its students. Professionally, Ellie was known for her intellectual creativity, work ethic, and steadfast devotion to the well-being of the children she taught and counseled.
Ellie was an inspiration to her students in so many ways. She loved engaging students in active learning experiences and often volunteered to support their extracurricular activities. She became a coach to the girl’s field hockey team and supervised numerous class trips. One such trip was to Old Fort Western, which was a former British colonial outpost built in Augusta in 1754, during the French and Indian Wars. Ellie and her students were so saddened by the wooden Fort’s neglected state, that She inspired her students to initiate a letter writing campaign to the Maine State Legislature, and their efforts contributed to the Fort’s revitalization. Ellie was later appointed to serve on the Board of the Fort, which, during her tenure, undertook extensive restorations. In 1969, the Fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and became a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
Ellie also inspired her students to broaden their life experience through exploration and adventure. She fondly remembered singlehandedly escorting a small group of gifted junior high school students aboard a Greyhound bus bound for New York City where they enthusiastically explored Manhattan. Ellie acted as a facilitator for other student adventures while serving on the local board of the American Field Service, which was an international student exchange program that enabled seniors from Augusta and other countries to immerse themselves in a different culture and way of life.
Ellie’s keen interest in history never waned; instead, it expanded to include collecting and restoring antiques, discovering that they offered insights into the day-to-day lives of our predecessors. Both Ellie and Edgar shared this interest in historical artifacts so much that in the 1960s, they opened a shop “White Barn Antiques” in Vassalboro, Maine, and became very active in the world of antiques. With an ever-ready curiosity and love of learning, they traveled around New England in their spare time to shows and fairs with a wagon loaded with antiques to sell. Ellie’s expertise quickly became recognized and she was sought after around New England for estate appraisals.
Ellie’s love for travel and history sent her to Europe on many occasions; including traveling there alone. She also volunteered to accompany Augusta students on trips to England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Ellie remained a passionate and engaged member of her communities, even after retirement. She became a volunteer consumer advocate at the Maine Attorney General’s office, advocating for victims of deceptive and unlawful business practices. Ellie was also a member of Zonta International, a leading global organization for individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls.
In 2000, Ellie returned to her roots in Reading, where she continued to remain active in various pursuits. In her 80s, she embarked on an artistic journey, taking up painting. She created lovely works in acrylic and watercolor, which she regularly exhibited at the Reading Art Association’s shows, where she volunteered. Her other volunteer work included serving for many years at the Mission of Deeds in Reading. She was committed to the Mission’s aim of supplying families in great need with necessary household items that were worthy of their new owners. To that end, she happily scrubbed donated pots and pans, and provided many other services to the Mission.
Ellie loved music and was a loyal follower of the Reading Symphony Orchestra and of the Middlesex Concert Band, in which two of her nieces were musicians.
Most of all, Ellie is especially remembered as a generous listener, positive supporter, and loving holder of family lore. She is greatly missed.
Ellie was the cherished sister of her now deceased brothers and sisters, namely, Dr. Anthony V. Nigro, Attorney Ernest L. Nigro, Judge Alfred V. Nigro, Elvira Cacciola Holt, Helen A. Nigro, and Eugene R. Nigro. She was the loving aunt of Charles T. Cacciola and his wife, Marina; Frederic Nigro and his wife, Barbara; Dr. Eugene Cacciola and his wife, Pamela Terreri; Attorney Eugene A. Nigro; Attorney Janice C. Nigro and her husband, Crandall D. McLean; Dale Ann Forney and husband Donald Forney, Jean Maria Nigro, and Carol Lucyniak. She is also survived by many loving grandnieces and grandnephews.
Private funeral services were held at The Douglass Funeral Home in Reading, Massachusetts.
During her life, instead of receiving gifts for special occasions, Ellie would ask for household items to be donated to the Mission of Deeds. In this tradition, in lieu of flowers, we ask that contributions be made in her memory to: The Mission of Deeds, 6 Chapin Avenue, Reading, Massachusetts 01867.
