F. Bruce Merges

Punta Gorda, FL-F. Bruce Merges, devoted husband, proud father, successful businessman, and noteworthy contributor to faith-based communities, has passed from us on February 19, 2026. The oldest son of Frank Merges, Sr, and Ann (Clark) Merges, Bruce (as he was always known), was born on October 22, 1936, in Albany, N.Y. He was soon followed by his brothers Dick, Paul, Bob and Frank. Their father passed away tragically when Bruce was only 16 years old, leaving mother Ann and the five sons. The bond the family had was a very tight one, and they stayed closely connected throughout their lives. The five brothers in particular enjoyed weekly group phone calls and getting together in person whenever possible. In his high school years, Bruce worked as a cowboy on a “dude ranch” in the Adirondack Mountain town of Lake Luzerne, N.Y., played high school football and basketball, and worked on his 1940 Mercury convertible. He graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in 1955, and met his future wife Barbara (Lyman) Merges at a high school dance in that same year. They became engaged and were married on June 30, 1956 at St. Joseph’s Church in Abany. Both bride and groom were only 19, and birth certificates were required at the ceremony. They honeymooned in Maine and Nova Scotia, and Bruce settled into his job on the Boston and Albany line of the New York Central. Bruce and Barbara’s first son Frank Bruce, Jr. was followed by Robert Patrick, Paul Lyman, and Matthew Bryan Merges. After initially residing on Mary Hadge Drive in Colonie, the family in 1963 moved into a house that Bruce and Barbara designed, which was built on a wooded lot on Hills Road in Loudonville. That home often hosted the extended family, as Bruce’s brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces gathered for pool parties every summer. Bruce left his job as a salesman at Capitol Staple Co. to found Towne Marine, a boat dealership, in the early 1960s, beginning a lifelong career as a successful small business proprietor. He grew Towne Marine over the years and added a Ski Shop in the late 1960s. In 1975 he and his family moved to Florida where he founded Bayflite Marine, Inc., in North Miami Beach. He ran Bayflite with notable success until 2003, when he sold the business and moved to Punta Gorda, Florida. Not being one to slow down, for the next twenty years he ran a business buying, refurbishing and re-selling homes. He ended his long career in business and finally retired in 2024. Beginning in his early years Bruce attended the church and school of St. Theresa’s Parish in Albany, and he was a faithful and devoted member of the Catholic Church throughout his life. He was forever grateful for the guidance of the Christian Brothers, the Catholic Order that ran Christian Brothers Academy in Albany. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a faithful contributor to all parishes of which he was a member. At the time of death, he was a communicant at Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda, Florida. His Catholic faith informed a rich spiritual life that sustained him in difficulty and guided his activities. This was evident, for example, in his long association with the Saint Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Punta Gorda, which he served diligently (along with his wife Barbara) for over ten years. Bruce also thanks Bill W. for 52 additional years of life. He loved boating, gardening (becoming a Master Gardener after moving to Punta Gorda), reading, kayaking, baseball (the Charlotte Stone Crabs minor league team in particular), his many cats, and he especially liked being with family. His favorite activity in later years was the annual “Grampa’s Holiday Breakfast”, when he took his seven grandchildren to a big breakfast/discussion session when we gathered in Florida during holidays. Bruce is survived by a large and loving family, all of whom will miss his presence tremendously: his wife of 69 years, Barbara; youngest brother Frank John Merges, Jr. (Rene); sons Bruce, Jr. (Aeja), Robert (Josephine), Paul (Lisa), and Matthew (Palmarin); grandchildren by son Bruce (Bryan Lee, Jason Lee, and Kate Lee); son Robert (Robert Patrick, Jr., James Doull), and son Paul (Jake, Cooper); numerous nieces and nephews, and their spouses and children. His memory will be a blessing to us all. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Bruce’s family Tuesday, March 10, 2026 9:00 am to 10:00 am at McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany, NY 12206. Please enter the funeral home from the rear parking lot entrance only. The Funeral Mass for Bruce will follow at 10:30 am at St. Pius X Church, Loudonville, NY. The Rite of Committal will be held at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rensselaer, NY immediately following the Mass. To leave a message for the family please visit www.McVeighFuneralHome.com

Tributes

F. Bruce Merges

October 22, 1936 - February 19, 2026