2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award–Michael Merriman '74

Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient Michael Merriman ’74 is grateful to receive this award. “It's a big honor. There are so many other deserving people. But I humbly accept the recognition. It allows me to acknowledge some great people who I met at Ignatius who have had a profound influence on my life,” he shares. 

Merriman speaks fondly of his years at Saint Ignatius. He recalls being constantly challenged by teachers such as Tom Pasko Hon. ’96 and Mr. Vince Benander, who had lofty expectations for their students. “We came in as little 14-year-olds and were treated like young men. Mr. Pasko would assign us books that were 500 pages long, and we had to figure out how to read those pages while doing our other homework. But I will tell you, when I arrived as a freshman at John Carroll University four years later, I was prepared,” he says adamantly.  

Those memories of being challenged and stretched by his teachers were lessons he carried with him throughout his career. Merriman shared that he was promoted to CEO of a public company at age 39 because his mentors believed in him, challenged him and gave him a chance. He then promoted several young people who did not have prior experience but just needed a chance, some coaching, and the opportunity to stretch. “So, I stretched and challenged them, as Saint Ignatius did to me and my classmates. When you give young people a chance, they'll rarely disappoint you if you accompany them on their journey. That’s the culture in the Ignatian tradition that I grew up with at Saint Ignatius that has guided me throughout my career,” he proclaims.  

Throughout his life, Merriman has demonstrated being a Man for Others by supporting non-profit Jesuit educational organizations, including Boys Hope Girls Hope, Saint Martin De Porres High School, and John Carroll University. “I was blessed to have people who I met through Saint Ignatius asking me to help their organizations. God was seeking me through the people who asked me to be involved.” Those who asked Merriman included former Saint Ignatius Principal Rich Clark who was starting Saint Martin De Porres, Jack Breen who was then chair of the John Carroll board, and his former English teacher Anne O'Donnell who was leading Boys Hope Girls Hope. 

Merriman shares that his classmates from 1974 were an exceptional group. He met his longtime friend Rich Bongorno ’74 in Mr. Pasko’s class and remains close to Bill Coughlin ’74 and Bill Eline ’74. “We were all in each other’s weddings and still compete together in the annual Alumni golf scrambles.” Merriman also praises the late Jim Skerl ’74 as “... not just a great teacher and the most faithful person I ever met, but also a role model for all his students and friends. We were blessed in our class to have people who stayed connected to Ignatius and to their alumni friends.

Merriman is also grateful to Saint Ignatius for helping him meet his wife, Libby (nee Callahan, Beaumont ’74). They met when she was performing in “Oklahoma!” with the Saint Ignatius Harlequins, and he was on the stage crew after getting a tip from a classmate that the best way to meet girls was by joining the stage crew!

Merriman praises the school’s leadership over the years, including Fr. Robert J. Welsh, S.J. ’54, Fr. Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J., and Fr. Raymond P. Guiao, S.J. ’82, for guiding our students and helping them discover their purpose and God's purpose for them. The legacy continues.

Merriman will be presented with the award at the 1886 Society Leadership Awards on September 25th, 2025.