Martin M. "Mert" Gildea
March 15, 1934 — June 11, 2014
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Dean W. Kriner Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Martin M. "Mert" Gildea
Martin M. “Mert†Gildea, age 80, 657 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg, died at his home at 6 a. m. Wednesday, June 11, 2014, after having been in failing health since April.
Born in Mt. Carmel on March 15, 1934, he was a son of the late Cornelius and Mary C. (Fidnarick) Gildea. He resided in Bloomsburg since 1966.
Mert was a 1952 graduate of the Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956. Upon completion of his military service, he enrolled in St. Vincent College, Latrobe, where he graduated in 1960 with a B.A. degree in political science. He was first in his class and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his M.A. degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1962 and later completed 33 credits towards a Ph.D. at Temple University.
He began his teaching career at Gannon University, Erie, where he taught for four years. In 1966 he was hired by the former Bloomsburg State College as an associate professor of political science and he retired in 1992. During his years at Bloomsburg State College, he served on many committees and gave numerous lectures to area clubs and schools. He served as a pre-law advisor for 15 years.
Mert will be remembered by some for his letters to the editor of the “Press Enterprise†as well as op ed pieces that they published.
He enjoyed teaching in Elderhostel, an academic program for senior citizens. His hobbies were reading, exercising and gardening. His vegetables were shared with friends and neighbors.
He and his wife, the former Patricia A. Antonio, celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on January 3, 2014. Also surviving are three children: Cornelius R. Gildea, and his wife Joni, Mechanicsburg; Maria G., wife of Gary Rowley, Hampstead, Md.; Dr. Martin S. Gildea, and his wife Becky, Mount Holly Springs; nine grandchildren; a sister, Genevieve McAnally, Reading; and a brother, Robert Gildea, Elmira, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by two sisters: Mary Gildea and Mildred Szymanski; and by two brothers: Cornelius P. Gildea and Phillip Gildea.
According to his wife, Chaucer’s clerk in the “Canterbury Tales†best describes him: gladly would he learn and gladly would he teachâ€.
Private services will be held. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1420 N. Susquehanna Trail, Selinsgrove, PA 17870.
Born in Mt. Carmel on March 15, 1934, he was a son of the late Cornelius and Mary C. (Fidnarick) Gildea. He resided in Bloomsburg since 1966.
Mert was a 1952 graduate of the Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. He served in the US Air Force during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956. Upon completion of his military service, he enrolled in St. Vincent College, Latrobe, where he graduated in 1960 with a B.A. degree in political science. He was first in his class and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his M.A. degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame in 1962 and later completed 33 credits towards a Ph.D. at Temple University.
He began his teaching career at Gannon University, Erie, where he taught for four years. In 1966 he was hired by the former Bloomsburg State College as an associate professor of political science and he retired in 1992. During his years at Bloomsburg State College, he served on many committees and gave numerous lectures to area clubs and schools. He served as a pre-law advisor for 15 years.
Mert will be remembered by some for his letters to the editor of the “Press Enterprise†as well as op ed pieces that they published.
He enjoyed teaching in Elderhostel, an academic program for senior citizens. His hobbies were reading, exercising and gardening. His vegetables were shared with friends and neighbors.
He and his wife, the former Patricia A. Antonio, celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on January 3, 2014. Also surviving are three children: Cornelius R. Gildea, and his wife Joni, Mechanicsburg; Maria G., wife of Gary Rowley, Hampstead, Md.; Dr. Martin S. Gildea, and his wife Becky, Mount Holly Springs; nine grandchildren; a sister, Genevieve McAnally, Reading; and a brother, Robert Gildea, Elmira, N.Y.
He was preceded in death by two sisters: Mary Gildea and Mildred Szymanski; and by two brothers: Cornelius P. Gildea and Phillip Gildea.
According to his wife, Chaucer’s clerk in the “Canterbury Tales†best describes him: gladly would he learn and gladly would he teachâ€.
Private services will be held. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 1420 N. Susquehanna Trail, Selinsgrove, PA 17870.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Martin M. "Mert" Gildea, please visit our flower store.
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