John Goodwin Merriam, 76, of Toledo, Ohio, an expert on Middle East and African politics, died Sept. 30 at his home.
The son of Gordon Merriam of Blueberry Farm, Walpole, John spent many vacations in Maine. He greatly enjoyed the study of events in the Middle East, and co-edited a book on Afghanistan as well as writing numerous articles and opinion pieces on the Arab world.
He was a graduate of Hamilton College and, after army service in Germany, received a master’s degree from Boston University and a doctorate in political science from Indiana University. He taught at Ricker College in Houlton, at the American University of Cairo, and then for most of his career at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
John was an avid sailor, walker, traveler, and a connoisseur of good food and wine. He and his wife Nancy spent summers at their cottage in Harpswell.
Dr. Merriam is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters, Heather Merriam of Berkeley, Cal., and Jennifer Truax of Mason, Ohio; son, Christopher Merriam of Harpswell; step-daughter, Ellen Ruddle; step-son, Ryan Fox; sister, Eleanor Kuniholm of Ithaca, N.Y. and Walpole; 12 grandchildren; and seven step-grandchildren.
