“Bob Merrick is a rare breed,” sentiments I shared with our colleague Rick Haase just Monday morning as we traveled together to Dallas.
A lot of stories will be told about Bob’s generosity. If you didn’t know him, you might think he gave for the recognition. But those of us who knew Bob well understood he gave because he felt a deep responsibility to do so. Giving wasn’t charity to Bob. It was an investment in the future of his community. And it wasn’t just about his gift. It was about setting an example for others to follow.
I’ll never forget when we approached Bob with a challenge: United Way of Southeast Louisiana had been asked to host the United Way Worldwide Tocqueville Society and Million Dollar Roundtable Gathering in New Orleans. We were honored—but there was one problem. At the time, we didn’t have a Million Dollar Roundtable donor.
Bob had already been a loyal Tocqueville Society member for decades, so we sat down with him, shared our situation, and asked for his help.
His answer was simple and immediate. "Yes. I'll be your bell cow."
That was Bob. No fanfare. No hesitation. Just action.
Because of his leadership, others followed. David Fennelly. John and Dathel Georges. Frank And Paulette Stewart. Jackie and the late J. Wayne Leonard. MacKenzie Scott.
Later in life, Bob said yes again. He agreed to chair our endowment campaign, made another transformational gift, and worked with us every step of the way to help secure the future of our mission. Sharp as ever, sleeves rolled up, urging others to join him.
Bob’s impact on United Way goes far beyond any dollar amount. It was about the way he gave, investing fully in our approach, believing deeply in the power of community, and trusting in the lives we were changing together. He saw the big picture and understood that supporting systemic, community-driven solutions could create generational change. His belief in United Way – and in the people we serve – helped fuel the evolution of our organization and allowed us to dream bigger, push farther, and serve better.
I'll miss our regular check-ins. I'll miss pulling up to his office on Notre Dame Street, where Bob would be standing outside, waving me into his garage, treating me like a VIP every time. Everyone should be as easy to talk to and as easy to trust as Bob.
Bob was a mentor, a champion, and a constant reminder that people must always stay at the center of our work, both those we serve and those who invest in us. Even as United Way evolved to become more modern and more impactful, Bob grounded us in where we came from, much like he did in the way he ran his business at Latter & Blum.
Over the years, Bob served United Way of Southeast Louisiana as Campaign Chairman, Board Chair, and Board Member. He rallied the support of his Latter & Blum colleagues every year for their United Way fundraising campaign. Their bake sale was legendary.
Bob’s generosity – to United Way and so many nonprofits – literally changed tens of thousands of lives. I suspect it saved quite a few too.
The truth is, there’s no real way to fully quantify a life like Bob’s.
We lost a great man. A rare breed.
And we will miss him dearly.
Michael Williamson
President and CEO
United Way of Southeast Louisiana