The late Joe Mertz

20.11.02
Following the section's recent mailing to all staff on our database, I just had the following letter from Janet Mertz, the wife of the late Joe Mertz.

'Dear Mr Hughes, It is with great sadness that I write to tell you that my husband Joseph C Mertz passed away suddenly on May 11th 2002. He started his training at St Francis at the end of 1948 and qualified in 1951. He then did his general training at Barnet (Herts) and then returned to St Francis in the teaching department with Peter Fraser. He obtained his S.T.D., from London University with distinction.
We moved first to Rampton and then Leicester where he eventually became District Nursing Officer of North West Leicester in charge of 15 hospitals. He retired in 1982.
I would be grateful if you would let his colleagues know that he is no longer with us and I would like to thank you for the contact you had with him over the years. It meant a lot to him.
Yours sincerely, Janet J Mertz.'

The sympathies of the Friends of St Francis go out belatedly to Janet. Joe was spoken of warmly and with high regard and his passing is mourned by us all. I never had the pleasure of working with him and only got to know him in later years through the reunions. May he rest in peace. JH