Illustration generously provided by Aundrae Williams
If Chadwick had a heartbeat, it was Jeffrey Mercer.
Head of School Jessica Donavan announced in an Oct. 3 email that Mercer had passed away after a courageous battle with melanoma. Yet his presence still echoes around campus in the enduring warmth of the community he helped build.
Officially, he was the Middle School Director and history teacher, but those titles only hint at the depth of his reach at Chadwick.
For nearly three decades, he poured his all into this community. Mercer will forever be remembered not just for his roles but for who he was: a friend, colleague, mentor, and experiential learning pioneer whose influence shaped Chadwick’s growth and spirit for generations to come.
Mercer had been a pillar of the community since 1996. To his colleagues, he was a steady shoulder to lean on. To his students, he was a guiding hand and a source of inspiration. And to the entire community, his contagious smile had a way of lighting up every face he passed.
Whether hiring new faculty or greeting students in the halls, Mercer had a way of making everyone at Chadwick feel seen and welcomed.
“He’s like a big brother to me,” said Zurine Lekuona, Upper School Spanish teacher. “If I were having one of those days when I was feeling down a little bit, if I ran into him, he always knew what to say just to make me feel better. Even if I didn’t say that I was having a bad day, he would just sense it.”
Some teachers teach, and some teachers notice. Mercer was both, even for students who weren’t in his class.
“I’d describe him as a positive person, someone who always saw the best in others, and who was kind, approachable, and easy to talk to,” said Lara Geida ‘30. “I never had Mr. Mercer as a teacher, but he would always say ‘Hi!’ whenever I walked past him in the halls, and those made my day.”
“He was someone who always, always, always put students first,” Lekuona adds.
Many Middle School students have found their own ways to honor him. Some collective efforts include launching a GoFundMe to fund a plaque in his name, while others are crafting various artworks and posters.
“It doesn’t have to be big, but my friends and I are thinking of getting him an award that lists his achievements so he will never be forgotten,” Magi Ding ‘30 said.
As a tribute to Mercer, Yukina Liu ’30 made a painting of a white dove to symbolize peace: “I hope [Mr. Mercer] is not in pain anymore from the disease, and I hope [my painting] can stay in the school for a while.”
To commemorate Mercer’s life, Chadwick cancelled classes on Oct. 6, while keeping school counselors on campus to meet individually with students in need of support.
Later that evening, Director of the Upper Village Craig Polin and Upper School history teacher Bryan Nelle organized a sunset “Paddle-Out” for Mercer, where nearly 300 students, faculty, and community members gathered at Torrance Beach.
“It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen,” said Ezekiel Robel ‘26. “Everyone was out on the waters, being there for each other, holding hands, and the sky even cleared up for him.”
The sight left many reflecting not just on the moment, but on the legacy Mercer left behind.
“When I think of Chadwick, I think of the few people who have been here all the years that I’ve been here,” Lekuona said. “It’s just hard to think of [Chadwick] with him not being here. This was a person who gave his all for so many years for this school, for what we stand for, for what we represent, for so many kids that we see come and go.”
That same spirit of care and commitment resonated with alumni as well. “Mr. Mercer was my 9th-grade advisor. It was a very difficult year for me, and I really tried to slip through the cracks, but Mr. Mercer saw me and saw that I needed support,” Visual Arts Department Chair Meagan Segal ’04 said.
“[He] made a lasting impact on so many of us, and [his] spirit and compassion will carry on through us all. Thank you, Mr. Mercer!”