Charles S. Merton

MERTON, CHARLES SANFORD, 81, of Little Egg Harbor, NJ, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin, N.J., his loving wife by his side, following a long struggle with COPD.  He was born on March 24, 1942 in Passaic, NJ, to Harold W. and Elinor (Elliott) Merton.  Charles spent 7 years at Bonnie Brae in Liberty Corner, NJ.  For two of those years, he attended Bernards High School, where he met Christina Kocsis; they married in 1964.  He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1966 with a BA in economics.  He received his MBA in 1970.  Charles served in th U.S. Army from 1966-1969, where he began Officer Candidate School and was deployed to Vietnam.  Charles started his career at Chubb & Son in 1971 and spent several years on relocation assignments in Toronto and San Francisco before retiring in 1998 as a Vice President.  Before moving to Little Egg Harbor in 2004, he lived in Bernardsville, NJ.  He took great pride in maintaining his home and yard.  He built dollhouses, including the miniature furniture, for his daughters, as well as model trucks and cars.  He was a Cub Scout Leader and stepped in to do camping trips with his daughter’s Brownie Troop.  He was a member of St. Bernard’s Church and served on the Vestry.  He served on the Ethics Committee for the town of Bernardsville.  Charles was the first Bonnie Brae boy to eventually become a member of the Board of Trustees and continued to serve for another year after moving to Little Egg Harbor.  He also volunteered at the Tuckerton Seaport and served on The Board of Trustees until health issues interfered.  Charles and Chris enjoyed traveling to places far and wide.  They met Michael and Louise Okin the first time they went to Africa and became travel companions after that.   Going out to dinner was something they did often; enjoying times with Ernie and Roni Larini or spending time reminiscing about Chubb days with Brian and Nancy Lynch.  Charles loved spending time with family “up north,” but was always happy to get home.  He was interested in family history, connecting with lost relatives while researching the past.  Charles is predeceased by his aunt, Anita Elliott Lingle, who had a great influence on his life; his sisters Bonnie Jean Lowe and Pamela Taylor Sohl and his brother, Richard.  He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Christina Kocsis Merton, his daughter Dulcinea Elms and her husband, Sean, of Hoboken, NJ; his daughter Meagan Aughey, her husband, Chris, and their daughters Rachel and Willow, of Denville, NJ; his brother Robert Merton, Arlington, TX; sisters Kerry Williams McKissick and her wife, Jean, of West Palm Beach, FL; Mary Lingle Long and her husband, Barry, of Wells, ME, and many nieces and nephews.  While there was no service, the family is planning a Celebration of Life at a later date.  For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Bonnie Brae, PO Box 825, 3415 Valley Road, Liberty Corner, NJ 07938 or www.bonnie-brae.org.  WOOD FUNERAL HOME, 134 EAST MAIN ST., TUCKERTON, N.J. is handling the arrangements.  

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