Edward Louis Mercaldo, 72

Edward Louis Mercaldo passed way peacefully, surrounded by his wife and children, on Nov. 19, 2013, at his home in Del Mar, Calif.

He was a loving and loyal son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend. Ed will be dearly missed and cherished in the memories of the many he loved and who loved him.

He was born Aug. 19, 1941, in Baltimore, the third of four sons of Dorothy Marie Mercaldo of Burlington, Vt., and John Joseph Mercaldo of Baltimore. He graduated from Rich Memorial High School in Burlington in June 1959, and Georgetown University School of Foreign Services in June 1963. Ed was active in university life and participated in Student Council and the Georgetown Glee Club while employed part time.

Wachovia Bank named him first international trainee, and he spent two years as export development coordinator for North Carolina, during which he led several overseas trade missions and shows to introduce the state to the world. Several international companies located plants and factories in the state because of special incentives designed during that period. Shortly after returning to Wachovia, Mr. Mercaldo was promoted to vice president, and in the mid-1970s became head of International Banking, then executive vice president.

In 1977, Mr. Mercaldo was hired by Bank of Montreal to run its worldwide capital markets business, located in London. The team ranked high in the financing league tables. Through much of the 1980s, Mr. Mercaldo was involved at domestic banking and finally realized his true calling as an investment banker before joining Diamond Fields Resources as EVP, CFO and director. He also served as corporate director for several startup companies and joined his wife Karen in her philanthropic works around the world.

Mr. Mercaldo is survived by his wife, Karen; children, Edward, Karen, Michelle, Dominic and Laura, and Gianna; grandchildren, Dean and Isabella; brother, Ron; sisters-in-law, Dawn, Kris and Sharon; cousin, John Perrotta; brother-in-law, Nels; and parents-in-law, Bob and Shirley Anderson; as well as many loving nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Mercaldos purchased their home in Kalispell in 1995, spending much time with friends and family hiking Glacier Park, and enjoying the many amenities of the Flathead Valley.

On Dec. 6th, a celebration of Ed’s life was held at the Mercaldo home in Del Mar. A memorial will also be held in Glacier this summer. Gifts may be made to the Ed Mercaldo Memorial Fund for UCSD Health Sciences (http://giving.ucsd.edu/, page 16)