Judith Merkle, longtime associate professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, died at her home in Claremont on Sept. 12 after an extended illness, surrounded by her children, Elizabeth and Marlow, and other family and friends.
Professor Merkle joined the faculty of Claremont McKenna College in 1982 in the department of government. She taught in the areas of Organization and Management, Public and Comparative Administration, and American Government. She also joined the faculty of Claremont Graduate School at that time. In 1985, Judith became the first tenured woman in the government department at CMC.
Colleagues remember her "unusually broad range of interest," states James Nichols, professor of government. "She was a wonderful storyteller with a great sense of humor," Nichols recalls. "I have recurring memories of laughing together at the end of the 2nd floor in Pitzer Hall."
Longtime friend and colleague Ward Elliott, the Burnet C. Wohlford Professor of American Political Institutions echoed those thoughts. "Judith was a supremely gifted storyteller, teacher, and colleague, with penetrating social-science insights as to the various ways that people arrange their lives, with a special flair for the odd, outlandish, dramatic, and funny ones," Elliott says. "She had a wicked, perceptive sense of humor and a native cheerfulness and zest which she kept to the end."
"I will always remember her for her friendship and her integrity," recalls John J. Pitney, the Crocker Professor of Politics. "Whether on issues of public policy or campus administration, she always stuck to what she believed was right."
In addition to her teaching, Merkle was an accomplished historical novelist having written six novels which received critical acclaim both here and abroad: A Vision of Light, In Pursuit of the Green Lion, The Oracle Glass, The Water Devil, The Serpent Garden, and The Master of All Desires. Merkle also authored Management and Ideology: The Legacy of the International Scientific Management Movement, a highly regarded book about Frederick Taylor who originated the Scientific Management movement. The Times Literary Supplement called it "an interesting piece of work on a subject of central importance" in its cover review of the book May 29, 1981.
Elliott, a singer and music lover himself, shared that Judith had a "beautiful, rich alto voice" and that she was a longtime member of the Claremont Chorale and sang in the choir at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upland. Her artistic interests went beyond music. In her younger years, Judith was a flamenco dancer, and research for one of her novels led to an interest in stained glass art, which she created until recently.
Ralph Rossum, the Salvatori Professor of American Constitutionalism and Director, Rose Institute of State and Local Government, was a close friend who attended church with Judith, and in recent years had hosted her, along with students, at his home for Thanksgiving. "Judith was a very bright, determined woman," Rossum recalls. "Whatever she put her mind to - she was extraordinarily good at doing."
The true passion in Judith's life, however, was teaching. "Teaching is central to my life," she noted in a CMC article when asked about giving up teaching to pursue writing full time. "I enjoy teaching too much to stop now. Teaching is what keeps me going. It's too much fun."
Judith received her B.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and her M.A. from Harvard University; she was in the first class of women admitted to the master's program at Harvard in Soviet Regional Studies. She previously taught at the University of Oregon, where she also served as the director of the Russian and East European Studies Center, and the University of California, Berkeley. After receiving her master's degree, Judith worked for the U.S. Navy Department as an intelligence analyst.
Judith is survived by her daughter Elizabeth and son Marlow, two grandchildren, Graham and Iris Johnson, and two brothers, Ralph and Ted Merkle.
A memorial service is planned at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upland, on October 2 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Friends of the Huntington Library, c/o Kimberley Valentine, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108.