It is with profound sadness we announce that Chad Jonathan Merriam, 51, passed away peacefully with his parents by his side on February 5 2025 in Oakville, following a valiant two and a half year battle with cancer. Chad was born on July 18 1973 in Montreal and had a wonderful life growing up in the West Island of Montreal. He most enjoyed skiing in the Eastern Townships and his several trips to Europe. He was educated at a French elementary school and an English high school where he was known as a fun loving, popular prankster. After moving to Toronto in his early twenties, Chad trained to become a bond trader leading to a successful career lasting over twenty-five years - most recently with Laurentian Bank Securities. He loved the challenges of his work and the everyday good-natured banter with the many colleagues and friends that he met along the way. Chad is survived by his parents John and Joan, his brother Shane, his former wife Jen, and his sons Logan and Oliver (Ollie).

Chad was an avid reader and amassed a collection of hundreds of books covering a variety of subjects notably science fiction, crime and adventure. Video games were also his passion. As a lifelong Montreal Canadiens fan he rarely missed one of their games on television. He always looked forward to watching a game with John on French language TV to cheer on their beloved Habs. When games were not going well for their team, their cursing in French was not for sensitive ears. Chad, a master builder of dozens of enormous lego sets, such as Star Wars creations Millennium Falcon and Super Star Destroyer, are displayed all over his home. His last project, Jabba's Sail Barge, remains a work in progress.

Chad's proudest achievements were his sons Logan and Ollie. They each worshiped him, with a shared love of laughter, spirited conversation, dining out and watching adventure movies - especially those featuring comic book heroes. For many years Chad and his sons attended the annual Comic-Con convention where thousands of comic book fans gathered to meet famous creators and each other. They designed and made their own costumes, imitating comic book superheroes such as Batman, Wolverine and Thor to wear at the event. But there is one superhero you will not have heard of. Ollie wrote the following short essay for his Grade 9 English class about his favourite superhero.

Superheroes Exist by Oliver Merriam

We all have our heroes, some greater than others. When we're kids, it's usually a superhero. As we get older, it becomes a singer or an actor, because people start to tell you that superheroes don't exist. I, for one, perpetually admired Spiderman. However, I eventually grew out of him. I never stopped believing in superheroes though, because there was one more I knew that stood out to me. He wasn't in a comic book or a movie. He was supremely real, made of flesh and bone. He would have epic battles with all of the bad guys in my head, he'd magically repair broken items around my house, he'd even teach me how to become strong just like him. He did everything he could for me. Nothing warms my heart more than knowing that I get to call my favourite superhero Dad.

That's why I couldn't understand how the words, "It's my cancer, they found something in my back," could ever be coming out of my favourite superhero's mouth. I don't remember what I said, or how I looked back at him. The only memory I have from that moment is falling into my superhero's arms, completely defeated by his words. I buried my cries into his shoulder, my tears darkening the grey of his shirt. I can recall him telling me that everything would be okay. But that couldn't be true. Nothing would be okay. Nothing would ever be okay again if I lost him. If I lost my superhero.

I remember walking outside, watching the way the flowers were starting to bloom. Then I looked over at the flowers that had shrivelled up and fallen off their branch. It was as if I was watching the circle of life run its course. But those flowers were regular people, with normal lives. Normal people that were born to eventually die, not superheroes. Superheroes are more like those plastic flowers you buy in stores that never get old or rotten. They are irrevocably tall, beautiful and durable. They are constant. Superheroes are always there. There are very few films where the hero dies, and when they do, they consistently come back in the next movie, somehow revived in some plot twist fashion.

Nevertheless, I wasn't in a movie. I was in real life. My superhero really had cancer, and he could've been dying. I couldn't bring myself to accept the fact that the villain can win sometimes, even if it's unfair. But even though my hero lost his hair, weight, and some of his muscles, he never lost his laugh. Or his wise words. Or any of the real things that made him a superhero. That day I learned that no matter how many punches life would throw at my Dad, he never lost himself in the process. He never stopped being my superhero, or my plastic flower.

I learned I was right to believe that superheroes do in fact exist.

The end.

Chad will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. He was intelligent, curious, skeptical of conventional wisdom, and often irreverent. These traits have been passed down by Chad as a legacy to Logan and Ollie. He will be remembered for his quick wit and wicked sense of humour. Chad would often wear hilarious tee shirts to the Cancer Centre leaving his doctors and nurses in stitches. One was 'I Like Tequila and Maybe Three People'. Another said 'I'm Silently Correcting Your Grammar'. And a third said 'Everything Hurts'. This one came with a bullet hole and a big bloodstain.

Ollie wrote in his essay that superheroes never die. Perhaps it's another way of saying a life that is held dear is never lost. The comfort of having a son, or a father, or a friend may be taken away - but not that of having had one. Wherever a beautiful person has been, there is always a trail of beautiful memories.

A heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre and the Oakville Palliative Group for their compassion and exceptional care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Odette Cancer Program of the Sunnybrook Foundation.

The family would like to invite you to attend Chad's Celebration of Life, Sunday March 23, 1-3pm, The Oakville Club, 56 Water St.
Theme:  Hockey, Video Games, Lego and Superheroes