Annie Merz, 59, of Great Barrington, beloved owner of renowned boutique clothing company Eagle Ray Traders, passed away Sept. 12, 2018, after a brief, fierce battle with cancer.
Annie was born Feb. 17, 1959, to Ruth and Robert Merz of Stony Brook, New York. Annie’s childhood was spent roaming the beautiful beaches on the east end of Long Island, attending the Stony Brook School and generally making trouble with her four siblings. She attended Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, and majored in French. She worked for SwissAir for 10 years and took every opportunity to travel the world. When her time with SwissAir ended, she started a business importing wooden handcrafts from Bali.
She met her husband, fellow Balinese importer Roman Fedoryka, in 1995 while vending at an event at the site of the original Woodstock. The two united their businesses and lives; married Sept. 19, 1999; and moved to Great Barrington in the winter of 2000. They brought their child, a golden retriever puppy named Kitty, home in 2004. Unfortunately, Roman passed away Oct. 25, 2005, from liver cancer. In spite of this devastating loss, Annie soldiered on. She built Eagle Ray Traders from a small but successful festival vendor into an internationally known clothing wholesaler. Additionally, Eagle Ray has donated a portion of their profits toward helping to educate impoverished Balinese children.
Annie is survived by her mother, Ruth Merz of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; and siblings Lawrie Merz and John McGuire of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Mimi and Leighton Mears of Wading River, New York, Bobby and Kerrie Anne Merz of Rochester, New York, and Carrie Merz of Boston. She is also survived by nephews Liam and Connor Mears; nieces Kyra Mears and Abby, Maisie and Bizzy Merz; her surrogate daughters Ashley Long of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Holli Bushnell of Burlington, Vermont; and countless friends all over the world. She was predeceased by her husband, Roman Fedoryka; her father, Bob Merz; and her beloved dog of 14 years, Kitty. Many will miss you, Nonnie; shine on, you crazy diamond!
Services for Annie will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, at 3 p.m. at FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA, 01230. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Berkshire Humane Society through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230 or https://berkshirehumane.org/donate/. To send remembrances to the family, go to https://www.finnertyandstevens.com.
