Douglas P. Mercado

Albany-Douglas P. Mercado died peacefully at home on May 5, 2012. Son of the late Peter and Marina (Mont) Mercado, Doug was born and raised on Manhattan’s West Side and attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. He served two years in the U.S. Army, including one in Vietnam, after which he earned a BA from Columbia University and a Master’s from the New School for Social Research. He moved to Albany in 1976 to work for the NYS Education Department HEOP program. He retired in 2001 as Bureau Chief of the Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs. Doug’s commitment to youth sports started in the late 1960s when he founded the Anibal Aviles Touch Football League. An avid baseball fan (who cheered on both the Yankees and the Mets), Doug could be also found in the announcer’s booth as “The Voice of National Little League.” He served as a Eucharistic minister at the Parish of Mater Christi and as treasurer of Albany Boy Scout Troop 2. Doug is survived by his wife of 33 years, Karen (Karacoloff); children Monica, Peter (Katherine Siemann), and Julie (Milosz Grabski); grandson Tyler; niece Andrea (George Alfaro); nephew Marcos; sister-in-law Linda Karacoloff; sister Marina; and his faithful companion, Goober. He was predeceased by his siblings Monica, Julia, and Louis. The family would like to express their gratitude to the doctors and staff of St. Peter’s Cancer Care Center for their care and concern, especially Dr. Stephen Wrzesinski and Dr. Jenny Romero, and to Doug’s caregivers, especially Joan and Holly. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Doug's memory can be made to National Little League, PO Box 8960, Albany, NY 12208 (attn: Rachael Seiler) or to Boy Scout Troop 2, c/o Robert M. Conklin, Scoutmaster, 6 Rickey Blvd., 12203. Funeral services Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 10:30 am from the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany thence to the Parish of Mater Christi, Albany at 11:00 am where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Wednesday, May 9, 2012 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the funeral home. Interment Graceland Cemetery. To leave the family a special message on their guest book, obtain a memory card or directions, please visit www.McveighFuneralHome.com

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Douglas P. Mercado

May 12, 1943 - May 5, 2012