"Annie" historian and Superfan Jon Merrill has passed away at age 78

[Stephen Russo]

Jonathan Merrill passed away on 01/05/24 at the Carolina Pines at Asheville nursing home in Asheville, N.C. Born on May 25, 1945 in Washington, D.C., he grew up in South Orange, N.J. He attended local schools through 10th grade and then was graduated from Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts in 1963. He was graduated from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. in 1969 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, after which he taught music and chorus to elementary school students. An Army veteran, Merrill was a manager at AT&T Headquarters in New Jersey. Merrill's parents were Deane and Harriet Merrill of South Orange, N.J.  His paternal grandparents were Charles and Eleanore Merrill of East Orange, N.J.  His maternal grandparents were Reginald and Emma Ray of White Plains and South Salem, N Y.