LITTLE SILVER - A memorial service for deceased middle school principal Don E. Merce is scheduled to take place June 5 at 7 p.m. at Markham Place School.

"He was a loved man," said Little Silver Mayor Suzanne Castleman of Merce, who passed away May 6 after being involved in a car accident.

Castleman announced at the June 2 Borough Council meeting that the memorial service would take place at the gazebo at the Markham Place School.

"He treated every child like [he or she] was his own. He was stern when he had to be but always fair," said Castleman about Merce, who was principal at the school for the past 19 years.

Parents, students and other community members participated in a candlelight vigil May 6.

The memorial ceremony is being organized by a Little Silver Board of Education steering committee, made up of members of the board, administrative team and staff and parents/community members and students, according to Little Silver Superintendent of Schools Carolyn M. Kossack.

"There was a huge community outpouring for people who wanted to be able to recognize him," said Kossack.

At the ceremony, the gymnasium will be dedicated to Merce and renamed the Don Merce Athletic Center, said Kossack.

She said in the case of inclement weather the ceremony will take place inside the gymnasium and refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

The ceremony will include speeches by current and past students, community members and administrators, as well as some musical performances.

Kossack and the board have appointed Alan Deroian to act as an interim administrator at the school three days a week as of May 28.

Deroian, who is a retired middle school teacher and principal, will assist current interim Principal Scott Taylor, who is also the supervisor of curriculum, instruction and technology at the fifththrough eighth-grade school, according to Kossack.