Award-winning author Cheryl Merser died at her Sag Harbor home on December 6.
The family described her as a great friend to so many, and that she died “after a bravely fought battle with cancer.”
Born in 1951, Ms. Merser began her literary career as a publicist at Random House. As her talent for crafting copy became increasingly apparent, she made the bold move to leave her job and write full time. Her first two books, “Honorable Intentions: The Manners of Courtship in the 80s,” and “Grown-Ups, A Generation in Search of Adulthood,” were well-reviewed narratives addressing generational differences in the 1980s. From there, she branched out into gardening with “A Starter Garden” and “The Garden Design Book,” and cooking, with “Relax, It’s Only Dinner!,” a title that perfectly reflected her casual approach to achieving unfussy, superb results. She also co-authored a history of East Hampton’s Guild Hall. In addition Cheryl was a highly sought after collaborator for numerous bestselling books, including books by Suze Orman.
Ms. Merser is survived by a daughter, Jenna Nicole Shnayerson.