.......W.W.H.S. 49 and Holding...................

What a great teacher and man.

RIP my friend!!! So glad I was able to connect with you.

I often thought of you over the years - my favorite teacher. I am so greatful to have connected with you recently.

Tony Martino now has that blue sign in his class that reads, "When all else fails, follow directions." That sign has been a humbling reminder my whole life. When I remember Mr. Mertz pointing very calmly to that sign. I knew the gig was up and never was he judgemental....Much love...In peace you rest Mr. Merz...

Also, the teacher that impacted my high school years the most! Just exchanged letters and so grateful to have had that opportunity to tell him that myself. Truly one of the best teachers ever! Football coach for Craig as well!

I loved his credo of 'I'm not going to feed you info to regurgitate on test day, I'll teach you fact A & fact B and with those you can figure out fact C.' Basic problem solving lessons I still use everyday! You'll be remembered for a long long time Jack Mertz!

I even use his "isms" - "Either you know it or you don't - so don't worry about it" on test days. AND, "NO 'Ya-I-know-buts..." He pops through me and my teaching because of his awesome teacherhood. I'm so glad I knew him then. circa 1978-1980. His conciousness reached MANY of us.

Loved Marine Biology with Mr Mertz. What a wonderful teacher, he will be missed.

I was so saddened to read of his passing, but feel blessed to have reconnected so I could tell him what an amazing teacher he was. The best teacher I ever had, even through college, no one could surpass his ability to teach. Mr. Mertz will live on in so many of us who keep passing on his "isms".....I know I did in my teaching and even in my own family. God bless his family. I know he will be missed......

"Nothing dumber than a sophomore" .................. Loved that Man!

I feel so sad that Jack has left us. He was absolutely the best teacher that I've ever had. He taught me so much about life in general. I feel very fortunate to have spoken to him just a few weeks ago and told him that I loved him very much. He's finally with his dear wife Sally. God's Speed Jack.

Love,
Saucirino!

Such a great teacher and witty individual...he will be missed.

You will be missed!

so sorry to the family...he will be missed

Oh, I am so terribly sorry, but thankful that he and I reconnected through facebook. He was one of my favorite teachers. LOVED his sense of humor and his teaching style. I immulate him when I teach my junior high students. I will miss him dearly.

 

My condolences to the family. I too am grateful that we reconnected on facebook. I learned so much and Marine Biology was my favorite class thanks to him! I'll have always have fond memories of Mr. Mertz.

How lucky were all of us to have had him in our lives. And how many of us, while sad, are smiling thinking about our time with him..."30 days to a more powerful vocabulary!"

I am deeply saddened by Mr. Mertz passing, but feel so lucky and grateful I had him as a teacher, and since connecting with him on Facebook! You will be missed and always remembered. My condolences to his family and friends. Love and admired you Charles Jack Mertz!

Mr. Mertz was the best teacher I ever had... and also one of my best friends from Wilson High School. He taught and coached four people from my family and we all loved him.

"One of these days, we have to get organized" was one of his funniest quotes. He was a hilarious man and I will miss him.

God bless Mr. Mertz!

I am so glad that I reconnected with Mr. Mertz. He continued to ask about my daughter, who has seizures, and inquired on how I was doing. When we first hooked up on FB, I called him Mr. Mertz. He wrote me back saying" We are too old for the Mr. Mertz, You can now call me Jack. It made me laugh. I learned so much from him and will be forever grateful.

God Speed Jack.

Mr. Mertz is the reason I became a teacher. I have used many of the things he taught us in my classroom over the years and tell my students about him and his funny sayings. Emailing back and forth with him over the last few months has been great. I still couldn't refer to him as Jack, even though he asked me to "drop the Mr. Mertz business" I probably say "when all else fails, get organized" at least once a day in my own classroom. He will be missed. My condolences to his family.

Mr. Mertz, You made a difference in so many lives. Your job is done and your legacy will live on. Rest in peace.

I am so blessed we were able to reconnect over FB and get caught up after all those years. You touched my life and your quotes will live on forever! My all time favorite "one of these days we need to get organized"! Rest in Peace and thank you for touching my life...

One of the most influential teachers that we ever had. I remember that said the thought of a commercial jetliner would never happen because they could not make a runway long enough. Also, Tony Gaeta drank his Gatorade during football practice and he said that it has medicine in it for his Gallstones.... Look what happened to Gaeta after that!!

What an incredible man and by far one of the best teachers at Wilson!! He was truly an inspiration...to ALL 6 of the Arnold Kids that had him for Marine Biology! So glad I was able to exchange words w/ Mr Mertz, ok "Jack" on facebook...it was great to get reacquainted with him. God Bless Mr. Mertz!

 

What an incredible teacher. I'm so glad my sisters recommended. He was legend at Wilson. I'm so glad he reached out! What a guy!! he will be missed.

I can hardly bear this news. Jack meant so much to me. For thirty two years he's been there for Shel - especially Shel - and me, with his humor, his love, and his wisdom. Godspeed, my dear friend CJ. I will miss you terribly.

Jack...you will always be Mr Mertz to me and one of the best and most memorable teachers of my life. While I don't remember all 100 plankton species, I do remember the lessons about life you taught your students. You kept us interested in learning, you inspired us to think, to ask, to push ourselves. I am grateful we connected again on Facebook. You touched so many lives. Goodbye dear Jack.

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear this! It was wonderful to reconnect with Jack (Mr Mertz) in spring 2006 in Denver and more recently on Facebook. Much love to his sons whom he adored and also those grandchildren who kept him going! He was one of a kind and I will miss him greatly. God bless.

The single most memorable teacher throughout high school and perhaps college as well. Jack had a mission: Prepare these punks for college at all costs. He succeeded. Thanks Jack, rest in peace.

Mr. Mertz, Thank you again. You touched so many, and I'm glad you had the opportunity for us to remind you that you served us all so well. God bless!

Mr. Mertz was a special man who touched many, many lives. He continues on in all of us and will not be forgotten. Thank you and rest in peace, Mr. Mertz.

After a C- grade on my first Biology test, Mr. Mertz called me into his office after the bell and asked me why I failed myself. He told me there was no reason I shouldn't get an A on any test in any subject. From then on I always got A's in his classes, and my view about my abilities and my future took a whole new course. I'm glad he and I had an opportunity to chat back and forth during the past few months. He will be missed . . .

I am deeply saddened to hear about "Mr. (call me Jack) Mertz. I am so blessed to have connected with him on FB in the last few weeks. Lovely exchanges, catching up on life's journeys. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. I hope they take comfort in knowing how much of a difference this tremendous man made . . . and how greatly beloved he was. God bless you all, and especially you Mr. Mertz.

It seems that Mr Mertz touched many lives,and that he is remembered with love and respect.I didn't have Him as a teacher,but i do recall seeing him on campus and in the hallways and he always smiled and said hi...We will see him again. RIP Mr.Mertz :)

My prayers are with the family and friends as they go through this time of loss. We will all miss him.

Mr Mertz (he said that now that I am an 'adult' I could call him Jack) always saw my potential even if I couldn't. A rare and exceptional teacher that will not be forgotten. My sympathies to his family.

Ahhhhhh, I am sooo bummed! He was my most favorite teacher ever!! I will forever be grateful for him getting in touch w/ me thru facebook and giving me the chance to tell Bhim so. Thank you Mr. Mertz for being a stellar teacher! You will always be remembered as "The Best There Ever Was"! Julie Gauger (Marine Biology Class at Wilson High)

I am so sad by this news but am so happy that we reconnected on FB the last few months. It was great to be able to tell him what a great teacher and influence he was in my life. I think he knew how beloved he was by so many of his students. His Marine Biology class was my favorite in high school. You will be greatly missed Mr. Mertz by family and friends. Rest in Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with his family whom he loved so much.
Jan Prohaska