The sudden death on Dec.1 of Deborah Mercer, who served as Auxiliary president from 1996-98, has saddened us all. We will miss her greatly.

Debbie began her career in the ASME Auxiliary in the early 1970s with the Philadelphia Section, where she served on a variety of committees until becoming chair of that section in 1979-80. Nineteen-eighty was the centennial year for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Philadelphia Section of ASME was holding a banquet at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia to commemorate the year.

Debbie headed the arrangements and decorations committee for the affair. It was a lavish event and Debbie received an award from the Philadelphia Section for her efforts in making it special. There was special local recognition of the event, which was attended by Donald Zwiep, who was the ASME president then.

Debbie received the Distinguished Service Award from the Philadelphia Section of the ASME Auxiliary in 1989.

Debbie began serving in the ASME Auxiliary in the late 1980s. She has been on the Honors and Awards Committee since 1998 and also took over the position of Student Loan Fund Committee chair from Janet Watson, when Janet was elected president of the Auxiliary in June 2000.

In addition to her duties nationally, Debbie continued to participate in the activities of the local Philadelphia Section, where she maintained the membership list and booklet for that section on her computer for more than 10 years, including 2001.

Debbie continued her participation despite a bout with cancer in 1998 and a heart attack in 2000. She raised the standard of service to one of the highest that can be attained.

— Ella Baldwin-Viereck
Auxiliary publicity chair

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