Eric S. Merrifield ’52

Ric was the son of Clifford, a member of the Class of 1913. He came to us from The Hill School, accepted a bid from Charter, and majored in biology. He was Bric-a-Brac circulation manager and joined the Pre-Med Society, Sons of 1913, and Orange Key Schools Committee. He roomed with Jay Sherrerd, Joe Bolster, and Dick Megargee.

He earned a medical degree at Johns Hopkins in 1956 and served with distinction in the Army Medical Corps in the 36th MASH unit and as the personal physician to South Korean President Syngman Rhee 1910, who awarded him the Order of Military Merit Choongmoo with the Silver Star. He returned to Hopkins for a two-year fellowship in respiratory diseases.

He began medical practice at Firland Sanatorium (Seattle), and then joined Sand Point Internists. From 1990 to 1997 he was vice president for medical affairs at Northwest Hospital. For more than 20 years he served on the board of the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

Ric died Sept. 10, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Kitty; and their children, Anne and Eric Jr. To them the class sends its sympathies upon the loss of their distinguished husband and father with our thanks for his service to the nation.