Merton Charles Ingham, age 92, passed away peacefully at home on February 26, 2022. Mert was born in Stockton, California and spent his teens and early adult years in Oregon.

A 1953 graduate of Oregon State University, he served in the US Army before marrying Nancy Davies in 1955. After holding several teaching jobs, Mert earned a PhD in Oceanography from OSU in 1965. He then embarked on a career as a federal government oceanographer in Miami, FL; Washington, D.C.; Narragansett, RI; and Woods Hole, MA.

Mert retired in 1992 and moved to Cape Cod in 1994. During retirement, Mert was a volunteer teacher in the Academy for Lifelong Learning at Cape Cod Community College for over 21 years. His favorite pastimes were gardening, writing, and painting.

Mert was pre-deceased by Nancy in 1989, and by his second wife, Barbara, after 24 years of marriage in 2014. He grieved the passing of his close friend Rachel Simons in 2021. Mert is survived by children Steven and his wife Barbara, Janice, and Donna and her wife Patty, and by a granddaughter, Grace Anne.

The family is grateful for the friendship Michael Slowik shared with Mert, and his many acts of selfless kindness on Mert’s behalf.

A memorial will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in honor of Mert, may be made to a charity of your choice.

I was fortunate enough to be in the Writers'Group at Lifelong Learning, which Mert managed. He was truly great at helping all of us budding writers with our efforts. I got the sense he was truly excellent at whatever he turned his hand to in life. RIP, Mert.

Mert and I met at the Academy in a writing class. He was a joy to know. He took great care of those he was close to. He taught me how to grow tomatoes in a compost silo. I now grow 6 silos every year! I toast Mert with every lettuce and tomato sandwich I eat... I loved that guy !!!!