ALTAMONT — Merritt Glennon, a beloved husband and father who loved history and community involvement, died on Friday, March 27, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany due to complications from surgery. He was 69.

Mr. Glennon was born in Schenectady to Ruth Esther Larkins and Edward Anthony Glennon. He graduated from Schalmont High School in Rotterdam, and earned a bachelor of science degree in history education from the State University of New York College at New Paltz.

Mr. Glennon married his wife, Patricia Rafferty Glennon, in 1974; they had three daughters.

Mr. Glennon loved history, reading, genealogy, and music. He was involved in his community, serving as a president of the Altamont Free Library, with a Parent Teacher Association in Guilderland, the Guilderland soccer club, and as president emeritus of the Schenectady County Historical Society.

He worked for the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, which was formerly the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, for 35 years and retired in 2001.

Mr. Glennon volunteered with the Mabee Farm Historic Site and the Altamont Community Food Pantry.

Merritt Glennon is survived by his wife, Patricia Rafferty Glennon; his daughter Sara Glennon and Sean Connery; his daughter Rachel Drake and her husband, Christopher; and his daughter Erin Glennon; his granddaughter, Brigid Drake; his brother, William Glennon and his wife, Diane Boniecki; his nephews, Ryan and Brendan Glennon; and his cousins Amelia Hallam and her husband, Sean, and Jeffrey Dreves and his wife, Marlene.

A memorial Mass will be held at St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Church, 109 Grand St., Altamont, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. Arrangements are through Frenendall Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Community Food Pantry, Post Office Box 678, Altamont, NY, 12009, or to the Mabee Farm Historic Site, through the Schenectady County Historical Society at www.schenectadyhistorical.org. 

— Jo E. Prout