Alfred "Fred" Merchant, of Queensbury, New York, passed away March 3 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. It was his 83rd birthday.
Merchant grew up in Amsterdam, and graduated from Amsterdam High School. and graduated in 1959 from St Lawrence University, where he was a member of the ski team and the SAE fraternity. After a hitch in the army, he joined Head Skis as a sales rep. Later, he worked as an independent rep for hardgoods and softgoods, notably Roffe skiwear, and was a founding member of the Eastern Ski Reps Association. In 2008, he received the BEWI Award for outstanding contributions to the sport of skiing.
In the winter, if he was not working, Fred was on the ski slopes, most often at his favorite spot, Whiteface. There were few ski areas that Fred had not skied. His summers were devoted to racing his J-24 sailboat, "Stinger," at the Lake George Club where he had served as commodore. His remaining free time was on his bicycle logging hundreds of miles each year. Although he loved skiing, sailing and biking, his most favorite past time was being with his grandchildren whom he adored.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Brooks Merchant, whom he married in 1985; his son, Alfred J. Merchant and wife Amy, stepsons James and Brett West and their wives, two grandchildren and five step-grandchildren. Russell and Marina Merchant; and step-grandchildren, Tucker, Tatum, Gracie, Hannah and Jackson West. A Celebration of Life will take place at 11 a.m. June 23, at the Lake George Club, Diamond Point.
Memorial Donations can be made to the New England Ski Museum, Lake George Club Historic Preservation Foundation, or Y-Knot Handicapped Sailing.
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