Joseph Merollo, 91, a former stagehand for WBBM-TV who worked on the first Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate in 1960, died Sunday, March 24, in Manor Care in Hinsdale. Born and raised on Taylor Street on Chicago, Mr. Merollo became a truck driver after graduating from Notre Dame High School. His father was a stagehand at WBBM-TV and got Mr. Merollo a job there in 1950. “The highlight of his life was working at that station. That’s what he lived for,” said his daughter, Sharon Mackus. Mr. Merollo worked on a variety of programs, including Lee Phillip’s daily show, on which he met celebrities such as Lucille Ball, Red Skelton and Kim Novak. When Edward R. Murrow would do a remote broadcast from Chicago, Mr. Merollo would be on his crew, his daughter said. “He saw a lot of famous people. He would always try to get his picture taken with them. He was very impressed with them,” she said. “He has a picture where he is pouring coffee for Vice President Richard Nixon.” At the station, Mr. Merollo worked on a variety of tasks, such as working a teleprompter and taking care of sets and props. In 1969, Mr. Merollo and his wife, Sylvia, moved to Bensenville. He retired from the station in 1978. Three years ago he moved into Manor Care in Hinsdale. In addition to his daughter, survivors include four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Modell Funeral Home, 7710 S. Cass Ave., Darien. A service will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home, followed by a 10 a.m. mass in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 8404 South Cass Ave., Darien.
