Bentley A. Merrick, 95, passed peacefully late Friday afternoon, September 18, 2026, with his family by his side and under the care of Lewis County Hospice.
Bentley Atwood Anson “Ben” Merrick was born on July 31, 1931, in Yonkers, N.Y., the son of the late Bentley Almerin Glead and Jane Clarissa (Atwood) Merrick. Raised in Millburn, N.J., he graduated from Millburn High School in 1949, went on to Hamilton College and graduated from Penn Dental, University of Pennsylvania, in 1956. Shortly after graduation he joined the U.S. Navy and served from 1956 to 1958.
Ben was united in marriage on July 12, 1958, in Norfolk, Va., with Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Burns. Ben was finishing his naval career on USS Pocono, the flagship for the 6th Fleet, and Betty was finishing school at William and Mary College (now Old Dominion University), Norfolk Division. They enjoyed lots of laughs and fun during their 68 years of marriage.
He opened his dental practice, Bentley A. Merrick, DDS PA, in Chatham, N.J., which later became Chatham Dental Associates.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; and their children and families: Susan Rose Merrick, wife of the late Dr. Bentley Atwood Howe Merrick, and their daughters, Dr. Katherine Merrick (Mitchell Joseph) and Jane (Alden) Merrick-Piper; Elizabeth J (“Jenny”) Merrick (Gerard) Vecchio and their daughters, Sabine Vecchio (Andrew) Baldwin and Mary A (“Lexy”) (Matthew Caraway — partner) Vecchio; and Charles Brooks (Kathleen) Merrick. He is also survived by Dr. Akihisa (Yasuko) Harada, our exchange student son; and his niece and nephew, Jane (Robert) Miller and Davis (Jeannine) Cutting.
Ben is predeceased by his son, Bentley A. H. Merrick, DMD; his sister, Marian, and her husband, Davis Cutting; and two nephews, Robert and Richard Cutting.
Ben deeply admired his family. Giving time and devotion to his family was the most important thing to him. He enjoyed tennis, golf, bridge, platform tennis and anything competitive. He always made friends of all ages throughout his life. He also loved New York Yankees baseball.
Calling hours are on Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10 to 11 a.m., at Sundquist Funeral Home, with a short service following. A luncheon will follow.
Donations can be made in his name to Friends of Lewis County Hospice, Inc., PO Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367, or to the LD Pankey Dental Foundation, Inc., One Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne, FL 33149 (pankey.org/pankey-foundation/donation-form; click “In honor of Bentley A. Merrick, DDS”).
To share words of condolence, please visit sundquistfh.com.