Robert truly had a blessed and charmed personal life and career, both equally important to him. He took his work very seriously, but he never took himself seriously. The twinkle in his eyes, his engaging smile and quick wit were very evident to all he encountered.
Merrill was born Moishe Miller on June 4, 1917 to Abraham and Lillian Balaban Miller. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, living in both Williamsburg and Bensonhurst, where there is now a street named after him.
While his father was a tailor, Merrill acquired his talent and passion for singing from his mother Lillian, who possessed a lovely soprano voice. She often performed on local radio stations, even having her own “Lillian Miller” program. It was she who recognized her son’s vocal potential and strongly encouraged him to pursue the study of music by introducing him to Caruso’s opera recordings, hiring a voice teacher even though the young Moishe would have preferred to build a career in baseball as a pitcher.
As an avid reader himself, it gave Merrill pleasure to pen his own truly American Story of struggle and success. Once More From the Beginning recounts both the inner and outer world of growing up impoverished with immigrant, non English speaking parents. With candor and humility, Merrill recounts how a shy stuttering kid from Brooklyn nicknamed Fatso, becomes an international operatic performer.
Ten years later, he wrote Between Acts, which is a behind the scenes insider's view of the operatic world.
Expanding on that theme, a year later, he wrote Divas, which explores, through fiction, the emotional interactions and off stage drama between operatic singers.
Robert was happily married to Marion Merrill for over 50 years. They had two children, David and Lizanne, who were the jewels of their life. On a few occasions the whole family performed together on television and also on the stage. Many wonderful summers were spent abroad as a family following Robert’s performances around the world. He was a kind and very nurturing father, with an optimistic and loving nature. He could always be counted on to lighten the mood and ignite a laugh with his unique sense of humor.
He was blessed with three grand children, Gracie, Jesse and Clara who brought him much joy in his later years. His son David continues to work in music as both a producer and recording engineer. His daughter, Lizanne has worked in the arts, throughout most of her life.
Robert Merrill passed away peacefully in his home in New Rochelle, N.Y. while watching the first game of the World Series. Had his beloved Yankees been playing, it’s doubtful he would have left.
The Robert Merrill Voice Scholarship Fund has been established at the Juilliard School, to make scholarship grants, in the name of the great baritone, for students of the vocal arts. For tax-deductible contributions to the Juilliard School please refer to the contact page.