MONROE TWP – Stanley Merer, age 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, with his beloved family by his side.
He leaves his loving wife of 58 years, Ronita “Ronnie” (Axel) Merer; his son, Barry Merer and his wife Donna of Scotch Plains; his daughters, Nan Merer of South Brunswick and Ellen Wahle and her husband Bruce of Worcester, Massachusetts; his six grandchildren, Josh, Allyson and Dan Merer, Matthew and Mitchell Jacobs and Danny Wahle. He also leaves his brother Lenny Merer of Freehold and his brother-in-law Elliot Axel and his wife Suzanne of Portland, Oregon. He was predeceased by his brother Harris Merer.
Stan was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Benjamin and Frances (Wiener) Merer. Following the untimely loss of Stan’s father in 1939, the family moved to Vineland, NJ in 1945.
He attended Long Island A&T, earning an Associate Degree in Food Science. Stanley was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate. Following military service, Stan enrolled in Monmouth College, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Ronnie and Stanley were married in 1959 at Temple Beth El of Asbury Park. In 1962 Stan and a partner opened a franchise fried chicken and seafood restaurant - Kwik KooK. After several years they co-founded the Chicken Holiday restaurant chain, which he owned and operated until 1998, affectionately earning the nickname “Stan the Chicken Man”.
Stan was an active member of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple for over 49 years, volunteering on numerous boards and committees. In the year 2001 Stan and Ronnie received the “Crown of Torah” award from Anshe Emeth, recognizing a lifetime of outstanding and consistent commitment to the Temple community.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, July 6 at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, 222 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick with Rabbi Philip N. Bazeley, Rabbi Emeritus Bennett F. Miller and Cantor Anna West Ott officiating. Interment will follow at Temple Beth El Cemetery, 3351 Highway 33, Neptune. Memorial Observance will be held until 5:00 pm on Friday, July 6 at his residence. Memorial Observance will resume on Saturday, July 7 at 7 pm until 9 pm at the residence with a Minyan service at 7:30, continuing on Sunday, July 8 at his residence from 1:30 – 4 pm and later at the home of Barry and Donna Merer, 2130 Meadowview Road, Scotch Plains from 7 pm until 9 pm with a Minyan service at 7:30, and on Monday, July 9 at the home of Ellen and Bruce Wahle, 89 Lynnwood Lane, Worcester from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm with a Minyan service at 7:30.
Memorial contributions may be made to The HaZamir High School Scholarship Fund or the Cantor’s Music Fund, both at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
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