In Memoriam: Alfredo ‘Al’ Merino

Alfredo ‘Al’ Merino, San Diego State University professor emeritus of administration, rehabilitation and postsecondary education, and former SDSU Imperial Valley associate dean, was passionate about fostering the success of educators and future school administrators. 

He died June 20, leaving a lasting impact on his community, family and countless SDSU and SDSU Imperial Valley students. He was 93. 

In 1974, Merino joined SDSU’s College of Education under the mentorship of Tomas Arcniega. As he began his journey at SDSU, his goal was to diversify the education field by supporting future teachers from minority communities. He established groundbreaking programs in collaboration with Carnegie Foundation, which aimed to train women and people from minority communities for administrative roles. 

He later learned there was a heavy need to establish an education program at SDSU Imperial Valley. Merino would commute almost daily to the Calexico campus to teach classes. His efforts created a strong foundation to what is now SDSU Imperial Valley’s Division of Education. 

“My father was a champion for educators,” said his daughter, Deanna Merino. “He would go to his students, local superintendents and other professionals in the field to either continue their education, or grow professionally by entering into leadership roles.” 

Once he was established at SDSU Imperial Valley, his dedication extended to creating educational administration programs in Imperial Valley and Mexicali, Mexico. He even offered leadership role classes to workers in textile factories, known as maquiladoras, in Mexicali. His outreach and connection to the Imperial Valley community was known and appreciated among local school district officials, business owners and binational partners. 

He then later served as associate dean for SDSU Imperial Valley in 1997. He retired as associate dean in 2001, but continued teaching through his professorship for four more years. 

"He was known for his socio-constructivist leadership, mentorship and service to many graduate students who became school principals in San Diego and Imperial counties,” said Alberto Ochoa, professor emeritus from SDSU’s College of Education, who was also hired by Arciuega around the same time as Merino.

“Throughout his career, he worked for social and educational equity, inclusion and access to opportunity. He will be remembered as a humanistic person and for his gentle tenacity in finding ways to improve the lives of children, adults and ethnically diverse school communities."

Merino was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, to Gregoria and Jesus Francisco Merino. There, he grew up on a working ranch alongside his five brothers and two sisters.

Merino enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1949 and served aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Princeton during the Korean War. Following his military service, he returned to New Mexico and began his higher education journey at New Mexico Western University while working in the sheriff’s department.

Merino began his education career at Franklin Junior High in San Bernardino, California, where he served as a drafting teacher and counselor. He later became the youngest Latinx principal in the San Bernardino Unified School District. Merino's passion for education led him to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, sponsored by the Ford Foundation. He later interned as a superintendent of public schools in Rochester, New York, and Trenton, New Jersey, through the Rockefeller Foundation.

Merino is survived by his wife, his two daughters — all of whom are SDSU alumni — his brother, his grandchildren and a great grandchild.

As a way to extend his legacy at SDSU and beyond, Merino’s family has established the Dr. Alfred Merino Memorial Endowment Scholarship fund to support undergraduate and/or graduate students from SDSU’s College of Education and SDSU Imperial Valley’s Division of Education. 

“His way of teaching and navigating the education system helped me and my professional career,” said Deanna Merino. “Everything I do is for his legacy. This scholarship fund is to take down financial barriers and really expand access to pursue a higher education career, just like my father worked for so many years. This is a continuation of his devotion for his community and making sure it’s true to my dad’s work and support to the field.”

A celebration of life service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27, at San Carlos United Methodist Church in San Diego.