Meryl Richardson Nolan

Meryl Richardson Nolan passed away peacefully at 86 years young. She was surrounded by her family in Oxford, Maryland. Meryl loved her family and friends so very much. She was born in Mt. Vernon, New York, the daughter of Merlyn Eldon Richardson and Eleanor Low Richardson. Moving to Philadelphia at six months, she went to Stevens School of Germantown. There she participated in plays, one with Grace Kelly. Field hockey was her love. She also attended the Philadelphia School of Art. Meryl’s family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, and she attended Wilmington Friends through High School. She was the captain of the field hockey team, and the chair for dance decorations. At Mary Baldwin University she graduated with an art degree with a minor in play production. Meryl was very active in extracurricular activities, becoming President of the Recreation Association, President of the Fine Arts Club, and President of the Dolphin Swim Club. She also played and taught field hockey. During her college years she traveled to Bermuda and many cities in Europe. After trying to promote her art portfolio and coaching basketball in Atlanta, Georgia, she moved to Washington D.C. where she worked at The National Gallery of Art in the Publications Department and met President Kennedy. Even better, in D.C. she met Gaillard Ravenel Nolan (Gil) at a Hexagon Club meeting. They fell in love and were married in Chevy Chase, Maryland in 1963. They lived in Acton, Massachusetts for 25 years. They raised two active boys, Gaillard Ravenel Nolan, Jr. and Merlyn Richardson Nolan (Rich). Meryl was very busy with the parents committees at their schools, the Junior League and her love of the garden. She also served on the Guild of the Concord Antiquarian Museum. She has been published for the design and curation of various period rooms there. During the boys’ college years, she acquired a degree in Interior Design and started Meryl Nolan Interiors. Meryl and Gil moved to Miami, Florida in 1990. She was involved with the Junior League, the Coconut Grove Garden Club, and the Fairchild Tropical Garden. She was also very engaged in the Coral Gables Villagers and curated the Lighthouse Keepers Cottage, on Key Biscayne. She also was in charge of Dr. Fairchild’s Study and the School House in Coconut Grove. After 10 years Gil and Meryl moved to Santa Clarita, California. Meryl was a member of the Garden Club and the Junior League. Meryl and Gil loved to travel and visited Hawaii, New Zealand, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, San Francisco and San Diego. Outside of San Diego they were thrilled during a hot air balloon ride. They left California and drove the southern route across the US back to their home in Florida. Meryl wanted to be closer to Rich in Maryland to watch the grandchildren grow up, moving to Oxford, Maryland. They were able to sail their sloop, Windfall, on the Tred Avon. They took several river and land trips in England, Scotland, Ireland, Europe, and Russia. Gil passed on in 2020. Meryl is survived by her two sons Gaillard Ravenel Nolan, Jr. (Pamela Barit Nolan), Merlyn Richardson Nolan, (Heather Falk Nolan), two grandchildren, Hadley Jane Nolan and Parker Richardson Nolan and loved cousins, nieces, and nephews. She loved sharing her passions and great times with her dear friends in wonderful Oxford, and Talbot County volunteer organizations. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 23 at Holy Trinity Church in Oxford, Maryland beginning at 1 p.m. Donations in Meryl's memory can be made to friends at The Oxford Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, The Oxford Garden Club, and The Oxford Museum.

Meryl Richardson Nolan

July 7, 1938 - September 29, 2024