Buffalo State Athletic Hall of Famer Joseph V. Merlo died Monday under hospice care at Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a battle with cancer. He was 81.
An inductee into the charter class of the Buffalo State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985, Merlo was a standout athlete at the college from 1954 through 1958, competing in basketball, baseball, soccer and track & field. A two-time All-American on the basketball court, Merlo became the first Buffalo State player to score over 1,000 career points and still ranks seventh in school history with 1,322 career points. He also continues to hold the school record for making 30 consecutive free throws.
Following graduation from Buffalo State, Merlo served for 37 years at North Tonawanda High School as teacher and administrator and 31 years as a basketball and baseball coach before retiring in 1995.
He remained active with Buffalo State athletics, serving as the official scorekeeper for men’s and women’s games for parts of three decades. He also was an active supporter of the Bengal Club and served as a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee.
Merlo joined the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in September.joined the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in September.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years the former Betty Jane Murphy; a son, David; a daughter, Dr. Debra Porter; two brothers, Conrad Anderson and Richard; a sister, Aria Ferguson; and three grandchildren.
Services will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday in Wattengel Funeral Home, 533 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda.
from BuffaloStateAthletics.com via IFTTT
