SOUTH BURLINGTON - Leonard S. Mercia, The Pines Senior Living, South Burlington, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and step-father went to be with the lord on November 30th. 2023.

Leonard was born in Morrisville, VT, February 1, 1923, the son of Ernest and Gladys Mercia. He graduated from Peoples Academy in 1941 and received his B.S. Degree in Agriculture from the University of Vermont in 1950 and his M.S. Degree from the Ohio State University in 1952.

Len, as he was known to his friends, enlisted in the Army Air Corps on January 12, 1942. He served as Crew Chief and Aerial Engineer while stationed in the United States and in North Africa with the Air Transport Command. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He was a charter member of the Vermont Air Guard from 1946 until 1950 and was in the reserve until his discharge from the Army in 1954. Len was employed by the Ohio Poultry Improvement Assoc. as Assistant Field Manager from 1952 to 1954.

In 1954 he joined the staff of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College as an Extension Poultryman and was a professor in the Animal Science Department until his retirement in 1983. While at UVM he did teaching and research and Extension work. He was the author of many Extension publications which were used by poultry producers and youth with 4-H poultry projects. He also authored two books -- "Storey's Guide to Raising Poultry" and "Storey's Guide to Raising Turkeys." These have been published in Spanish and English and received wide acceptance in foreign countries as well as the United States.

In 1984 Len served as a poultry consultant in Kenya and Uganda, Africa. In 1987 he spent several weeks in Honduras as Poultry Consultant for Partners of the Americas. He also served as secretary of the Vermont Poultry Association and secretary/treasurer of the Vermont Feed Dealers and Manufacturers Assoc. for many years.

Len was an avid skier, fisherman, and hunter. He loved skiing in the Alps in Europe and in the deep powder snow out west, in addition to skiing in Vermont. For about twenty years he made a yearly trip to Tuckerman's Ravine in New Hampshire where he and his skiing friends hiked up the mountain with skis and ski boots on their backs and skied straight down the headwall. He was an accomplished woodcrafter and enjoyed making reproductions of dry sinks, cabinets, and grandfather clocks, as well as doing furniture restoration.

Len and his wife Shirley did extensive traveling for nine years throughout the United States in their R.V. Later they enjoyed many trips abroad to Spain, Italy, and the British Isles. They also enjoyed taking cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska.

In 2010 Len was a recipient of the Robert O. Sinclair Award. This award honors a faculty member whose career served the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the UVM Extension Service with distinction achieved excellence in his profession, and demonstrated an exemplary record of service and commitment to fulfill the land grant mission to serve the people of Vermont.

Len was a member of the Williston Federated Church from 1954 to 1989 and joined the First United Methodist Church in Burlington in 1989. He had a love of music and he and Shirley sang in the church choir. They also loved singing duets together in church as well as nursing homes, senior centers, and the Respite House. They always looked forward to singing 14 years with the Colchester Community Chorus.

They volunteered 9 years at Allen Brook School in Williston and the teachers and students always looked forward to hearing them sing in the annual variety show at the Williston Central School. Len made a little birch canoe and he and Shirley sang a duet "On Lake Champlain in My Little Birch Canoe" which was a big hit in both the Variety Show and one spring concert with the Colchester chorus.

Len and Shirley loved doing volunteer work together. They volunteered 5 years at Fletcher Allen Health Care and 2 years in the music department at Essex Jct. Summit St. School, in addition to the 9 years at Allen Brook School. They always looked forward to serving supper at the Salvation Army where they always sang the blessing before serving the meal.

Len is survived by his loving wife Shirley; son (Bill, (Susan) daughters Jackie Owen (Gordie), Kathie; son-in-law Henry Benis; stepson Kerry Lonergan, step-daughters Kim Couch and Kathy-Jo Lonergan; 12 great-grandchildren. 12 grandchildren; 3 step-grandsons, and many more dearly beloved extended family members and friends. He was predeceased by his first wife Barbara Martin, daughter Marilyn Benis, and brother Norris (Ellie)

When Shirley and Len moved from Williston to So. Burlington, they attended Faith United Methodist Church where they made many new friends. A memorial service will be held to celebrate the life of Len on Saturday, February 3rd, at 2 PM at Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St, South Burlington, VT. There will be a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Church or UVM Foundation, Grassemont Building, 411 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Corbin and Palmer.