Members of the central Ohio engineering community are mourning the loss of a long-time educator in the field.
Carolyn Merry was killed Tuesday afternoon in a crash along I-71 in Madison County.
The vehicle she was driving was struck from behind by a tractor trailer. The driver of that truck, Adrian Rogers, was charged with vehicular homicide.
Kevin Carpenter describes his former professor and eventual colleague, Dr. Carolyn Merry, as being full of life.
“She was very active; I don’t know her to never be doing something,” Carpenter said.
Dr. Carolyn Merry, seemingly devoted her professional life to the field of engineering.
She served as president of the central Ohio chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
She spent decades teaching aspiring engineering students at The Ohio State University, and even served as chair of the school's department of civil, environmental and geodetic engineering.
Carpenter said, “She was a tireless advocate, not only of the university and the civil engineering department, but of the also the engineering profession, as well.”
On Tuesday, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers said the vehicle Merry was driving was struck from behind by a semi driven by 40-year-old Adrian Rogers. Merry’s husband tells 10TV that she was returning home from Cincinnati.
Merry was killed and Rogers is now facing vehicular homicide charges.
Kevin Carpenter told 10TV the news of her death is difficult to process, “because she was so charismatic and had so much vitality and was so enthusiastic about everything she did.”
Rogers entered a not guilty plea Wednesday in court and his bond was set at $1,000.
Friends and family may call during the hours of 1 to 3 PM and 5 to 7 PM on June 6 and 12 to 2 PM and 4 to 6 PM on June 7 at Schoedinger and Co, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, OH 43221, (614) 457-5481.
A private service for the immediate family will be held separately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her memory be made to the Carolyn J. Merry Engineering Scholarship Fund, Fund Number 664695 at the Ohio State University.
To send a check by mail, please make check payable to The Ohio State University Foundation.
Checks may be mailed to the following address:
The Ohio State University Foundation
1480 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221.
Online gifts may be made via credit card at the following website: give.osu.edu/DrCarolynMerry