| Graduation Year | Class of 1970 |
| Date of Passing | Mar 05, 1991 |
| About | Meryl Lee Zerbus: March 2, 1952 - March 5, 1991. Passed on suddenly at St. Joseph's Hospital following surgery for a ruptured intercranial aneurysm, at the age of 39. Meryl was born in Newport Hospital to Joan Brawner Zerbus and William Zerbus, both of Newport. She grew up in Newport and attended grade school there until she and her family moved to Middletown where she graduated from Middletown High in 1970. Following graduation, Meryl worked as a service adviser for many years at Viti Toyota and Mercedes Benz Dealership in Middletown. She and William (Bill) Charboneau where married on September 1, 1974, aboard the schooner Bill of Rights in Newport. In 1983, she and Bill started Newport Amusements at Easton's Beach. They developed the miniature golf course and children's amusement area that included the kiddie Bumper Boats and other attractions, providing family entertainment on family nights with actor appearances by Batman, Mickey Mouse and others. Meryl's pet project was the Restoration of the City-owned Carrousel. She was tireless in her pursuit to get it operational during the winter months for the opening first season. The second winter was spent restoring the lights for the following season, then painting the horses. ( Fun Times). Meryl is survived by her husband William Charboneau, a daughter Nicole Charboneau Oliveira, two grand children, Keenan and Kailey Oliveira of Portsmouth, a son, Ryan, of Newport and a brother, Jonathan Zerbus, of Middletown. |
