Gasper "Gus" Merced

Gasper “Gus” Merced, 90, of Bayport, LI, died on May 20, 2025, surrounded by his family.  Raised in Astoria, Queens, Gus served for three years as a dental technician  in the US Army stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. After his military service, he attended both NYC Community College and Hofstra University. His plans for a career in dentistry shifted on a fateful day in Gertz Department Store when he met the love of his life, Wenda "Wendy" Wood. After establishing their home and family on Long Island, Gus worked as a letter carrier with the US Postal Service for thirty years. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and spent fifty years volunteering for the organization in various leadership roles. Gus was particularly proud that all of his sons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Gus is survived by his wife of 66 years, Wendy, his eleven children; Michelle Carniaux and her husband John of Sayville, Melissa Harris and her husband Willie of Bayport, Melanie Acierno and her husband Richard of Bayport, Michael and his wife Brenna of Bayport, Meredith Leahy and her husband Robert of Sayville, Matthew and his wife Holly of Shoreham, Monica Rich and her husband Adam of Connecticut, Andrew and his wife Michelle of Pennsylvania, William of Middle Island, Lucy Merced LoVece and her husband Tyler of Patchogue and Stephanie of Baldwin, as well as his twenty four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Friends and relatives will gather for a wake on Friday, May 23rd, 4-8 p.m. at Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home in West Sayville. The funeral service will also be held there at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24th.  Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.