Plaque Honoring Sean Merriman Unveiled at Las Animas Park

Craig and Jacqui Merriman lost their only child, Sean, when a tow truck swerved on April 4, 2006. Sean was doing road repair with his Caltrans crew when the tow truck lost control and skidded on the wet roadway. Sean, who had been working for Caltrans for only a few months, was killed instantly in the accident.

The Merrimans received a settlement from a civil lawsuit against the employer of the tow truck driver. Craig and Jacqui Merriman chose to use that money to fund projects benefiting Gilroy youth and families, according to Donna Pray, executive director of the Gilroy Foundation.

"They decided to do something good for the community where Sean grew up," Pray said. "They came to the Foundation and asked how we could help them create a long-lasting gift to Gilroy."

The Merrimans created three endowments: the Sean Michael Merriman Fund for St. Joseph's Center, the Sean Michael Merriman Fund for Mt. Madonna High School scholarships, and the Sean Michael Merriman Fund for City Youth Recreation scholarships.

According to Pray, each fund pays five percent of its value each year toward programs in each endowment.

"These funds are here in perpetuity," Pray said. "They will fund projects each year long past our lifetimes."

In addition, the Merrimans had two specific projects they hoped to complete, Pray said.

They wanted to provide shower and laundry facilities that would be available to Gilroy's homeless every day of the year. In 2010, Merriman funds paid for a renovation of the Salvation Army's facilities at Church and Fifth Streets. Thanks to the Merrimans' donations, there are now two full handicap-accessible bathrooms as well as a washer and dryer open for public use.

The final project that the Merrimans had hoped to fund, Pray said, was improvements to the dog park at Las Animas Veteran's Park.

"Sean was a dog lover," Pray said. "Sean grew up just blocks from the park, and as the park grew so did Sean."

"Jacqui and Craig wanted to see the park continue to grow. They donated $50,000 to the project, which has just been completed this spring. There are beautiful trees, new benches, a shade structure, a community bulletin board, and new signage," Pray said.

"The Merrimans continue to find ways to help our community," Pray said. "This spring they donated $3,000 to the Gilroy Demonstration Garden at Eigleberry and Seventh Streets to build a 'living fence' around the garden," she added.

"The Merrimans are true gifts to our community," Pray said.

Yesterday, at the unveiling of a plaque honoring Sean Merriman, Jacque Merriman placed one pink rose on the plaque. She explained to the people gathered that she had picked the rose from a bush that Sean had helped her plant.

Many dog owners passing by the concrete pillar stopped to lightly touch the plaque before entering the park. One woman, who placed a rose on the plaque next to Jacqui's rose said, "We think about Sean and his mom and dad whenever we come here."