Obituary of Philip J Mercaldi

Philip J. Mercaldi was born on February 6, 1955.   He was the cherished husband of Noreen and the heroic father to Danny, Rick, and Andrew Mercaldi.  Philip was the son of Norma and Philip J. Mercaldi, Sr.  and brother to Nancy Schoener (Steve), Maria Koziak (Bob), and John Mercaldi (Bridget).   He was also the beloved uncle to his eight nieces and nephews and their spouses.

Phil was born in Manhattan and grew up as a Bronx boy where he attended St. Mary's Catholic School and Cardinal Spellman High School.   He was strong, athletic, intellectual, and loved by his family and friends.

        He attended Iona College where he received his degree in chemistry and was President of the Karate Club.   He was a Black Belt in the Goju style of Karate and had his own Karate school in Inwood in Manhattan where he instructed youth in self-defense.  

        Working as a manager in Korvettes, he finished college and worked as a chemist before finding the career that would make him fulfilled.  Attaining his Master's Degree, Phil began teaching and it was in this job that he found a truly rewarding lifetime experience.   

        After teaching in various Catholic schools, he began a career at The Mary Louis Academy which would ultimately gain him respect as one of the finest and effective chemistry, physics, and earth science teachers for decades.  He eventually took on another position as the Director of Information Systems and builder of the master schedule for students and faculty as well as a host of other responsibilities.  

        It was at Mary Louis that he met the love of his life, Noreen.   Friends at first, their relationship quickly developed into a great love story.   He married and they happily welcomed three beautiful sons.   His family was his pride and joy.

        Phil was a hands-on father in every sense of the word.  He did night feedings, gave baths, made Halloween costumes, and taught wood-working, train set-ups, and astronomy.  He set up fish tanks, played with his sons for hours on end, and guided them  to think deeply and come to conclusions.

        Basically, he showed his boys how to become men.   He taught them strength in the face of adversity , faith in the midst of darkness, humility in a world of arrogance, and love for each other in good times and in bad.

         Phil stood up as a scholar, a black belt,and as a quiet, humble husband and father.  He stood with incredible fortitude in the face of sometimes insurmountable odds. He was a man of God who followed Christ on his life's journey.

          He will be missed by all of us, his former students, his friends, and most of all, his loving family who will hold him on a pedestal as their hero forever.