Raimond Meerbach, 87, of Westport, MA passed away on the morning of January 3, 2017. Raimond was born in Voru, Estonia on June 13, 1929 to Konstantin and Olga (Puskar) Meerbach. His family fled their homeland in 1944 when Raimond was just 13 years old due to mounting tensions and escalating threats from the Russian regime during World War II.
After being displaced from Estonia, Raimond and his parents lived in multiple locations throughout post-war Germany. It was there that he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953 under The Lodge Act, which later enabled him to become a U.S. citizen. He married his wife, Irja, in 1962 after meeting her at an Estonian event in Minnesota. He was a 1963 graduate of Macalaster College in St. Paul, MN, spent a semester at The University of Heidelberg in Germany and studied International Business at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, AZ. After Arizona, Raimond and Irja lived several years in New York City before moving to Massachusetts where in 1973, he joined the U. S. Dept of Commerce, International Trade Administration, a position he held for 25 years until his retirement in 1998. He made his home in Westport from 1980 to the end of his life and loved his 37 years in his adopted town.
Raimond (known as Rommy, Rai (Ray) and Pappi) will be remembered for his love of all things international, especially Estonia, his family, Westport, the beach, travel, photography and animals. He was proud of his life and accomplishments and enjoyed discussions about international events, languages, culture, life experiences and the universe at large. Almost always controversial, there was never a dull moment when he was around.
He leaves behind a wife, Irja Meerbach, a son and daughter-in-law, Erik and Amber Meerbach, two grandsons, Carter and Andrew Meerbach, a daughter, Marissa Meerbach, and another son, Michael Marschall, from a previous marriage.
Arrangements are private.