Merle Nancy Scolnik's Obituary
Merle Nancy Scolnik, age 77, passed away on January 24, 2021 at the Poppen Hospice Residence in Muskegon. Merle was born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 4, 1943 to Mollie and Milton Ruttenberg. She grew up in Pittsburgh and Trenton, New Jersey, graduating from Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh. She met a recruiter from Michigan State University at a College Fair and decided to attend Michigan State University. Merle’s career and life revolved around children. After receiving her degree from Michigan State in K-12 Special Education, she worked at Eastern Orthopedic School in Grand Rapids before finding a great special education position with the new Multi-Cap program at Muskegon Public Schools. She earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Western Michigan University and refused to get her PhD because in Muskegon Public Schools, it was only worth a few hundred dollars a year in additional pay. She has been very involved with her Congregation, Temple B’Nai Israel, and served as the Principal of the Sunday School for over 25 years. She has been a long-time board member and served as President of the Congregation. She liked to read and was an active member of two book clubs and was involved with the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce, the Garden Club, Doll Club and was a Board Member of Read Muskegon. She mentored young women and served as a CASA…Court Appointed Special Advocate… to advocate for children who are living in foster care because of abuse or neglect. She also was an active member of the American Association of University Women for many years. She formed her own Red Hat Group, the Crimson Hat Queens and as the Founder, she will forever be the Queen Mother. She belonged to a second Red Hat group, the Crimson Cruisers…and she stayed very busy with her friends. One of her life-long passions was Mah Jong, a Chinese game played with tiles that is a favorite of Jewish women on the East Coast. Her Mother played and when she moved to Muskegon, she could not find a game to join. There is a little gambling involved and the players love the game and the getting together. So, after moving to Norton Shores, and not finding other players, she taught people to play…probably 100 or more over the 43 years she lived here and two of the women she taught, still played in her original Monday night game. She frequently played three times every week. Her other passion was collecting Dolls and she amassed a giant collection of them, with many displayed in a huge custom case built into a wall in her living room. She met her future husband 51 years ago at a single’s dance at the Park Street Congregational Church in downtown Grand Rapids. It was pure chance, two Jews meeting in a church, and they immediately hit it off. They were both smitten, and Bob proposed within a week. They married 7 months later and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past July. They both took a leap of faith and it was a great journey. They had two terrific children, Amy, and Michael and two perfect Grandchildren, Mara, and Ethan Murphy. Merle and her husband, in many ways, were a perfect team. Bob, who started his first business soon after they married, frequently credited Merle with his future successes. Her teacher’s salary supported them for the first 7 years of their marriage, so he could reinvest in the family business. He talked of her sacrifices and her trust in him as the reason for their success as a family. In their 50 years of marriage, they never went to bed angry and shared similar values. Merle loved people and she loved entertaining. She helped organize countless events and enjoyed parties and dinners at her home and especially, large New Year’s Eve parties. She had a legion of friends including Mah Jong partners, teaching colleagues, her Temple family, Red Hatters and other dear friends that she traveled with and had lunch more times than you could count. She was loved by many. She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Bob Scolnik, 2 children, Amy (Lance) Murphy, and Michael (Stacey) Scolnik. 2 Grandchildren, Mara Murphy and Ethan Murphy and her beloved sister, Carole Schwartz-Cohen. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Joe Schwartz. She is also survived by eight nieces and nephews and many cousins. Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, a private graveside service will be held at Mona View Cemetery with Rabbi Alan Alpert officiating. Her family is hoping to have a large celebration of Merle’s life at her home on Mona Lake later this summer. She loved large parties in their backyard, overlooking her Lake. Memorial Contributions may be directed to Temple B’Nai Israel, 391 West Webster, Muskegon, MI 49440, or Read Muskegon, 26 E. Broadway, Muskegon, MI 49444. Arrangements handled by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral Homes, 6291 Harvey St, Norton Shores, MI 49444. Sign the guestbook online at www.sytsemafh.com
What’s your fondest memory of Merle?
What’s a lesson you learned from Merle?
Share a story where Merle's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Merle you’ll never forget.
How did Merle make you smile?
