Charitable Gift Annuity
Grateful to Peddie for changing his life, Bill Merizon ’52 returns the favor
When it was decided that Bill Merizon ’52 was to attend Peddie, he was not thrilled.
“I was living in Milwaukee, attending a public high school and barely sliding by with ‘C–minus’ grades,” said Bill. “My mother heard about Peddie from friends, and the next thing I knew, I was in Hightstown for an interview.”
As it turns out, that interview was one of the best things to happen to him.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Bill chuckled. “I was still pretty unhappy at first. Even more so when they told me I would have to repeat my freshman year!”
Now living in a sprawling home in tranquil Sun Valley, Idaho, with his wife Martha, Bill is grateful to Peddie for shaping him into the person he is today.
“Peddie helped me pull my life together. My grades went up, I made friends, and by the time I was a junior, I was an All–American athlete and the third–fastest prep–school backstroke swimmer in the country. More importantly, I excelled in many personal areas of my life, gaining skills I would go on to use throughout my career.”
At Peddie, Bill had deep admiration for the faculty and was particularly close with Evan Hicks, dean of students from 1945–1953, Clinton Sprout, his former swimming coach and Bill Thompson, his dorm master in Wyckoff Dormitory.
“I spent many an hour in Mr. Hicks’ office for being rather mischievous,” reflected Bill, a 2008 Sports Hall of Fame recipient. “It was always good–natured!”
Bill went on to attend Williams College and received a bachelor’s degree in 1956. After a brief stint as a counter intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, he returned home to join the family office equipment business, eventually taking over for his father, Isaac, in 1971.
“I was very close to my father and mother,” said Bill. “I am thankful for what they instilled in me and the value they put on my education. Which is why, when the opportunity arose, I named an endowed fund after them.”
The Della L. Merizon and Isaac M. Merizon Endowment Fund, which Bill established in 1985, directly supports the Peddie swimming program that made such a significant impact on him.
Two decades later, Bill once again decided it was time to give back to Peddie and became a proud member of the Bell Society. Between 2006–2015, Bill established seven deferred charitable gift annuities, all designated for the Della L. Merizon and Isaac M. Merizon Endowment Fund. A charitable gift annuity is a contract with Peddie that generates an immediate federal income tax deduction, payments for life (partially tax–free) and gives Peddie a present interest in the fund balance.
“Charitable gift annuities allow me to ensure that Martha will be taken care of when I’m gone. It’s my way of leaving an income stream to her and eventually give back to Peddie.”
While Bill and Martha remain quite busy, they plan to pause their adventures to come home to Peddie next summer.
“My 65th reunion is coming up,” said Bill. “I’ll see you there!”