Former FDU President Francis J. Mertz Passes Away

Former FDU President Francis J. Mertz, who led the institution from 1990 to 1999, passed away on Wednesday, March 26.

Francis J. Mertz

“We join with all his many loved ones and friends in mourning and express our deepest sympathies to Frank’s wife, Gail, and the Mertz family in this difficult time,” President Michael J. Avaltroni said.

Avaltroni added, “Frank was an outstanding leader who helped strengthen FDU after the University had faced significant financial struggles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His determination and decision-making helped position the institution well for the future and we all are indebted to him for the important role he played during a critical time.”

Mertz was appointed interim president in 1990 and formally installed as FDU’s fifth president at the University’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 1992. He served as president until his retirement in 1999 and then was bestowed the title of president emeritus.

During his time as the FDU president, he led the development of a strategic planning process with distinctive campus missions, helped strengthen academic standards and increase enrollment, expanded academic programs and curriculum offerings, orchestrated a financial resurgence that helped eliminate debt issues and led to five balanced budgets and a successful capital campaign and paved the way for more than $40 million in new construction projects. Most notably, the strategic planning process made possible the merging of the Rutherford Campus operations with those of the Metropolitan and Florham campuses, a difficult but important move to ensure the future sustainability of the institution.

Other prominent achievements at FDU under his leadership included the formation of the New College of General and Continuing Studies for nontraditional students, successful reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and successful accreditation for the Silberman College of Business from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. An emphasis on educational technology, distance learning and computing facilities also brought the University into the new millennium.

Among the new construction projects included the renovation of Dickinson Hall on the Metropolitan Campus and the construction of the Roberta Chiaviello Ferguson and Thomas G. Ferguson Recreation Center and the Martin F. Stadler, Patrick J. Zenner, Hoffmann-LaRoche Academic Building (the ZEN building) on the Florham Campus.

In 1999, Mertz and his wife established the Francis J. and Gail Williams Mertz Scholarship Fund to provide financial support to academically talented students from select New Jersey high schools who are pursuing undergraduate studies at FDU. The scholarship embodies their lifelong commitment to independent higher education and student success and has provided over $700,000 to more than 200 students.

Prior to serving as FDU president, Mertz held dual positions as the president of the Independent College Fund of New Jersey and president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in New Jersey. In these roles, he coordinated the lobbying and funding for the state’s private colleges and universities and considerably boosted state aid to private institutions. Mertz had previously worked in New York, first as vice president and chief financial officer at New York Medical College and then as the administrative director of the law firm Sage Gray Todd and Sims.

The son of a salesman, he grew up in a housing project in Newark’s Ironbound section and later attended St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, where he was awarded a debating scholarship at St. Peter’s College. Following graduation, he earned his JD from New York University School of Law in 1961. He later returned to St. Peter’s, where he taught algebra and worked in the registrar’s office, before becoming vice president of development and then executive vice president — the first layman to hold such a position there.  

After his retirement from FDU, he continued to stay active with numerous boards of nonprofit organizations and corporations. Most importantly, he dedicated himself to his family including his wife, Gail, their six children and many grandchildren.

“His FDU family will miss him dearly and we will always be grateful for the many great things he did for our University,” Avaltroni said. “With tremendous affection and appreciation, we will cherish his memory and keep his spirit alive.”

For details on the services for Frank, please follow this link.