Gretchen Merrill US and European Champion

[trixietoes]

As US Nationals and Europeans have just concluded, I want to honour a great champion from the 1940's. She was born in November 1925, the only child of Abner Scott Merrill and Gretchen VanZandt Merrill. Born into the wealthy Merrill banking family she lived a privileged life in Beacon Hill, skating at Boston Skating club and summering at their house in Lake Placid. She went to the bests schools. and was a debutante. As an heiress, she had no worries about money in the strict days of Olympic amatuer rules. She was 5 time US Ladies Champion and the second and the last non European women to win the European Ladies crown, when it was open to non-Europeans. She also did all of the usual upper class sports such as swimming and tennis. She was the 1968 Apple Blossom Queen in the Shanandoh Apple Blossom Festival. She was unable to compete for all of the titles as she wished to do, as many events, including World's were cancelled during the war years. She married once to a Mr. Day but had no children , and divorcing.

Tragically, her life was far too short, passing on April 16, 1965 in the living room of her Windsor , Conn, apartment. At the time, police said she died of natural causes and that her body may have been there for up to a week. Later, it was reported that she had been having "emotional problems" for her last 3 years. It is sad to think she had no friends, family or domestic staff who would have checked in on her during the week she lay in her home.

There are some items about her to be found on the internet including a cover story in a 1946 Life Magazine. There are some pics on images. The picture of her which I imagine to be one of the last of her, shows a hale and healthy middle aged woman who looks like she has lead a preppy existance of golfing and other pursuits.

[trixietoes]

Sorry , date correction , she was Apple Blossom Queen in 1948.  She is buried with her mother in Fairfield , Conn.

[riley876]

Some people just want to be left alone.   Nothing wrong with that.   Though many might label that itself to be an "emotional problem".

As for her death, who knows,  might not be connected.  Young people do simply drop dead now and then, even fit skaters.

[trixietoes]

Yes, "emotional problems" was a direct quote from the newspapers at the time.