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<h3 class="title"><a name="top"></a>Kevin Mercadante - <br>
"The Funeral Director"<br>
"The Man"<br>
& His "Modus-Operandi"</h3>
<h4 class="titlesmall">Update-July 5, 2005</h4>
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<p> When one thinks about Mercadante Funeral Home, you are immediately drawn
to a picture of Louie Mercadante. Louis Mercadante (we all knew him as “Louie”)
was a consummate professional – there for the many families he would
serve and there for all funeral directors who needed advice and assistance
regardless of the circumstances.</p>
<p>As a young apprentice working my way through college and Embalming School
in Boston (previously I worked summers in 1961 and 1962 at Nordgren Memorial
Chapel), I worked for Frank H. Miles Company (Funeral Home) in Holden during
my senior year at college and while attending the New England Institute
of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, Embalming and Funeral Directing. Amongst my
duties at Miles F.H. was to drive the hearse or limousine for funerals at
other funeral homes when they rented Miles equipment. One such account was
Courchesne Funeral Home at the corner of Hamilton Street and Plantation
Street. There I met Mr. Louie Mercadante, who routinely directed funerals
for Mrs. Courchesne at the funeral home.</p>
<p>I made certain, whenever possible, that I was the one selected to drive
Miles livery equipment for funerals at Courchesne Funeral home, because
I knew Louie Mercadante would, if available, be there to direct the funeral.
Louie Mercadante became my mentor in many ways and my enthusiasm for the
business and his willingness to openly share his knowledge and wisdom with
me made for an exciting day whenever I had the opportunity to be in his
company. Mr. Mercadante was a focused and committed businessman, and he
knew if I was successful in my endeavors, I would be a competitor seeking
to attract the Syrian/Lebanese trade – business that he too wished
to acquire. At this point in time, Feracco Funeral Home and Fazio Funeral
Home handled the bulk of the Syrian/Lebanese families experiencing the loss
of a loved one. Louie Mercadante was beyond “pettiness” and
did not, for a moment, allow what might happen in the future to cloud his
judgment in doing what was right – today. To this day, I remain grateful
to Louie Mercadante for his candor, willingness to be of assistance to others,
and always taking the “high road”, and being there for me –
and I always will.</p>
<p>Time passes and I became associated with Caswell-King Funeral Homes, and
soon thereafter the Orthodox Community and the Syrian/Lebanese Community
resoundingly rallied around one of their own to provide the necessary services
at the time of a loss of a loved one. Knowing the pain they were experiencing,
knowing the families for most of my life, and knowing the ethnic traditions
of the Church made for a bond that few, if any, could replicate.</p>
<p>During this time, Louie Mercadante introduced me to his son, Kevin, whom
I found to be young, impetuous, and a bit cocky when it came to dealing
with others in the business. I wrote it off as immaturity – something
that we all experience and must deal with in our lives. My association with
Mercadante Funeral Home and Kevin Mercadante was virtually nil while I was
affiliated with Caswell-King Funeral Home. It was not until I was about
to leave Caswell-King Funeral Home and become associated with Nordgren Memorial
Chapel that I learned from Ronald Johnson, a director at Caswell-King Funeral
Home how instrumental Louie Mercadante was to and for Mr. Johnson when Mr.
Johnson owned his own funeral home at 129 Lincoln Street in Worcester. Although
Mr. Johnson had little to say about Kevin Mercadante, he had wonderful things
to say about Louie Mercadante.</p>
<p>In 1995, soon after joining Nordgren Memorial Chapel, I was asked by the
priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Hamilton Street in Worcester
if Nordgren Memorial Chapel would consider providing the annual calendars
much like we did for the Orthodox Churches in Worcester. Harry Mangsen and
John Carrigan, owners of Nordgren Memorial Chapel refused to provide the
calendars; as they could not see the future business potential. Since I
did not have the financial where-with-all at this time to pay for the calendars
myself, I contacted Kevin Mercadante and asked if he was interested in providing
the calendars. Kevin was excited and more than willing to grasp this business
opportunity, and I arranged for him to meet with the priest to finalize
the transaction. To this day, Mercadante Funeral Home conducts the “lion’s
share” of the business at Our Lady of Perpetual help Church as a result
of having his name on the calendars each year.</p>
<p>In 1996 after joining Nordgren Memorial Chapel, I was approached by the
Aboody Family, owners of the El Morocco Restaurant, to direct the funeral
of an immediate member of their family. (I had directed the funeral of their
father, Paul, from Caswell-King Funeral Home several years earlier). The
Aboody Family had an unusual request – that being they wished for
me to direct the funeral, but wanted the wake from Mercadante Funeral Home
on Plantation Street in Worcester, if possible. Hence, the first business
association I would have with Kevin Mercadante. The funeral went especially
well, the family extremely pleased, and the association with Mr. Mercadante
- professional.</p>
<p>A short time later, a person from the Willows in Westborough who did not
wish to use Nordgren Memorial Chapel as the funeral home to handle her cremation
and Memorial Service, asked that I find someone else in Worcester with whom
I had confidence to arrange her funeral when she passed. Kevin Mercadante
was very pleased to do so, for I arranged many of the details and attended
the Memorial Service held at the Willows in Westborough. Kevin Mercadante
was very pleased with the arrangements, exposure, and benefits Mercadante
Funeral Home received for this new found business.</p>
<p>When my mother passed in February 2002, Kevin Mercadante and Stephen Gemelli
came to my mother’s visiting hours at St. George Orthodox Cathedral.
When Kevin Mercadante’s dad, Louie, died; I, too, was there out of
my deep respect for Louie and what he taught me, and for Kevin, as well.</p>
<p>At this juncture it is important to note that I was (and still am) the
ONLY Orthodox funeral director in Worcester or Worcester County and the
funeral director for between 85-90% of the funerals of parishioners at St.
George Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester, Massachusetts, and that Mercadante
Funeral Home did the other 10-15% - basically with families they served
pre-dating my entrance into the funeral business - up to November 19, 2003
when the events that I will present demonstrate the “True Colors”
that make up Kevin Mercadante.</p>
<p>One an occasion dating back to 2001 when I met Kevin Mercadante at the
Worcester Telegram & Gazette; the both of us placing obituitaries in
the newspaper for the next mornings edition, Kevin Mercadante made it a
point to tell me that Edward and Kathy Haddad were close friends of he and
his wife, and that he (Kevin) asked Ed about arrangements for Ed’s
mother, Freda. Edward Haddad indicated that as long as Phil Haddad was in
the business, Phil Haddad would be the director for the funeral of his mother,
just as he was for Ed’s father. Ed also indicated he had preplanned
and prepaid for his mother’s funeral with Phil Haddad years earlier.
Within weeks of this conversation, I had the occasion to be at a function
with Ed & Kathy Haddad, and they reinforced the content of the discussion
I had with Kevin Mercadante.</p>
<p>In early July 2003, it became apparent that my usefulness to Kurt and Katherine
Mangsen had been exhausted. I had worked feverously with Katherine Mangsen
and Atty Sinrich in negotiating the purchase of the Carrigan’s interest
in Nordgren Memorial Chapel (a role Kurt could and would not assume, and
all he wanted to know was when would it all be over). The Mangsen’s
now owned 97% of Nordgren Memorial Chapel. The Carrigan’s were gone.
They didn’t need me any more – or so it seemed.</p>
<p>When Katherine Mangsen proposed to remove me from Nordgren Memorial Chapel’s
Board of Directors in early July 2003 and replace me with Ronald Johnson,
it became abundantly clear as to what her intentions were. I shall share
with you the actions taken by Mrs. Mangsen in a future update – actions
that can only be described as vicious and malicious; a trend distinctive
of the person.</p>
<p>With the “dye cast” and the future of the families I have served
and who had placed their faith and trust in me now in jeopardy, I called
Kevin Mercadante and asked for a meeting at his convenience. We scheduled
a time to meet at his funeral home during the first week of August 2003.
I proposed a business association wherein I would become a licensed funeral
director at Mercadante Funeral Home and if past experience was any indication,
I believed my Orthodox Families would contact me at Mercadante Funeral Home
when they had a death in the family.</p>
<p>Mr. Mercadante expressed an interest in the proposal, but wanted to think
about it, to speak with at least one of his associates, and indicated he
would get back to me in a week or so. Several weeks passed and I wrote a
follow up letter to Mr. Mercadante after not receiving a return call from
him. I received a letter from Mr. Mercadante dated September 9, 2003:</p>
<div class="insert">
<p>September 9, 2003</p>
<p>Philip G. Haddad, Jr.<br>
9 Kenwood Avenue<br>
Worcester, MA 01605</p>
<p>DearPhil,</p>
<p>In response to our conversation and the letter you sent, I want to share
my thoughts on the possibility of our joining forces. I realize that you
as an individual bring to the table approximately 45-55 funeral calls annually.
I also realize that your funerals may enter us into a "market"
that we only touch the fringes of right now. However, at this time I feel
it is not the most opportune time for us to make a merger.</p>
<p>We are in the midst of changes within our own company, for example the
transfer of<br>
ownership of the company and property to me and my brother. We are also
feeling that there may be some cross over in churches that we both serve,
and we need to determine how to differentiate between each others clients.</p>
<p>Phil, I don't want to say that this is totally out of the realm of possibility
in the future, but at this time we feel that we are unable to consider a
merger. If you have any questions, I would certainly hope you would contact
me.</p>
<p>Respectfully, </p>
<p>Kevin L. Mercadante</p>
</div>
<p>On September 12, 2003 I forwarded a letter to Mr. Mercadante acknowledging
receipt of his letter to me and accepting the rationale for his decision
not to merge our businesses at this time, and to accept his offer to contact
him with any questions I might have.</p>
<p>In early October 2003, after learning that someone at Nordgren Memorial
Chapel (yet to be identified) opened mail addressed and forwarded to me
by Orthodox Clergy providing information to be printed on Orthodox Calendars
provided to the churches each year, I learned that Mrs. Mangsen had forwarded
a letter to each of the Orthodox clergy stating that Nordgren Memorial Chapel
would not be providing the Annual Orthodox Calendars for 2004 as they had
since I joined Nordgren’s in 1994.</p>
<p>Having no advanced knowledge of Mrs. Mangsen’s actions, I was shocked
to hear from the clergy of the correspondence received by them from Mrs.
Mangsen. I immediately contacted Mr. Mercadante indicating if he were interested
in a business association, I could immediately produce the opportunity to
provide the Orthodox Annual Calendars to three of the four Orthodox Churches
in the immediate area. Kevin Mercadante was extremely interested in providing
the calendars, but could not agree to a business association at that time.
Mr. Mercadante indicated he would provide the calendars with the name Mercadante
Funeral Home alone on them; and when I became associated with another funeral
home, I could assume the calendars during the next ordering period. I rejected
Mr. Mercadante’s offer, and I personally paid for calendars for the
Orthodox Churches for the year 2004, and again in 2005.</p>
<p>After being abruptly terminated from my employment at Nordgren Memorial
Chapel without notice on November 19, 2003 by Kurt Mangsen (I was and still
remain a minority owner of the funeral home), I was contacted a few days
later in the middle of the night by Fr. Michael Abdelahad, pastor at St.
George Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester. Fr. Michael indicated the mother
of a parishioner and Parish Counsel Member had just passed away, and they
wanted me to handle the funeral arrangements. I indicated to Fr. Michael
that I was not associated with a funeral home at that time. Fr. Michael
indicated he had told the family this, but they wanted me to contact them
immediately. I called the family and they said they would consider the place
on Plantation Street (they couldn’t remember the name Mercadante Funeral
Home), but only if I would be there for them. I indicated I would.</p>
<p>I, then called Kevin Mercadante and explained the circumstances. We arranged
together to meet the family the next day at Mercadante Funeral Home, and
that I would assist in the direction of the calling hours and funeral along
with Mr. Mercadante and his staff. With but one major glitch, the wake and
funeral went very well. Fr. Michael stated to me, “why don’t
you become associated with Mercadante Funeral Home?” I responded,
“I approached Kevin, but he has other business matters he is addressing
and the timing isn’t right for him.” Fr. Michael indicated the
association would be (in his terms) “a natural” for the both
of us and our community of parishioners. I agreed.</p>
<p>I asked Fr. Michael if he would consider contacting Kevin Mercadante and
setting up a meeting to discuss his thoughts. Fr. Michael said, “I’d
be happy to”. Fr. Michael called me the next day with the date and
time we were to meet in his office at St. George Cathedral. The date and
time arrived. Kevin Mercadante and I arrived at St George Cathedral within
minutes of each other; only to find that Fr. Michael went to Mercadante
Funeral Home – thinking the meeting was at the funeral home. Ten minutes
later, Fr. Michael arrived at the Cathedral for the meeting.</p>
<p>Fr. Michael commenced the meeting by suggesting it would appear that an
association between Mercadante Funeral Home and Phil Haddad would work out
well for Mercadante Funeral Home, for Phil Haddad, and for all the parishioners
of St. George Orthodox Cathedral. Kevin Mercadante indicated that there
were many parishioners at St. George Cathedral that have told him that if
he created a business association with Phil Haddad, they would not come
to Mercadante Funeral Home. Fr. Michael and I turned to each other and I
stated, “Kevin, would you like the names of the people?”</p>
<p>Kevin Mercadante did not believe a business association could happen at
this time, but (and I quote) “I would be willing to buy your prearrangements.”
I emphatically stated (and I quote), “My families ARE NOT FOR SALE!”
Fr. Michael asked Kevin Mercadante to think about it (the term being –
‘sleep on it for awhile’) and we’ll talk again. The meeting
ended.</p>
<p>Less than a week later, my attorneys were notified by Nordgren Memorial
Chapel’s attorney, Scott Sinrich, that Philip Haddad had Fr. Michael
attempt to “broker” a deal to have Philip Haddad become associated
with Mercadante Funeral Home. I asked Fr. Michael if he had spoken to anyone
about the meeting with Kevin Mercadante, and he said “No!” I
certainly told no one. That leaves Kevin Mercadante who must have relayed
the essence of the meeting to someone at Nordgren Memorial Chapel. Fr. Michael’s
words (and I quote), the funeral industry in Worcester is a MESS!”</p>
<p>A couple of weeks later, after the funeral of William Peters (a funeral
that was conducted by Mercadante Funeral Home), I asked Fr. Michael if Kevin
Mercadante had given him any further indication as to the subject of the
meeting. Fr. Michael’s response was “Kevin is ONLY interested
in purchasing your preneed funerals.” I responded to Fr. Michael in
the same tone as I did when he, Kevin Mercadante, and I met at St. George
Orthodox Cathedral – “You can tell Kevin Mercadante for me –
my families ARE NOT FOR SALE!”</p>
<p>The State Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers is now
accusing me of attempting to sell my preneed funeral arrangements to Mercadante
Funeral Home as a result of Kevin Mercadante’s statements to the Investigator
for the State Board. The State Board for more than eight (8) months refused
to provide my attorneys with the name of the person(s) making the accusations.
The rationale being – the funeral director in question was afraid
if his name was released, he would lose business and I might retaliate against
him. Finally the State Board had to release Mr. Mercadante’s name
to us. When we asked again (for the 4th time) for his statement in writing,
the date, time, and who else was in attendance when Mr. Mercadante made
the statement, we were finally told “No statement was recorded and/or
signed by Mr. Mercadante.”</p>
<p>Does Mr. Mercadante need my families to supplement his already thriving
business? CERTAINLY NOT!</p>
<p>Is it a matter of ego for Kevin Mercadante to have my middle eastern following
in his corral of business? YOU BET IT IS!</p>
<p><strong>“Mr. Mercadante, you can earn it or you can steal it!”
Apparently, you have made your choice!</strong></p>
<p>As Billy Graham so eloquently inferred in his Crusade in New York last
week,<strong> “Those that intentionally do harm to others must fear
the Lord - for the Lord must play hard ball with some.”</strong> If
this be true, Mr. Mercadante, I pray for you as I have and continue to pray
for the soul of Mr. Kazlauskas.</p>
<p>The name of this web site is <strong>“JUSTICE AT WHAT PRICE”</strong>,
and that is a question I ask myself many times each day. As this colossal
conspiracy and ALL the facts are known and available to the public, then
and only then, God Willing, will <strong>“Character Assassins”
learn that they will be identified, rooted out, and held accountable for
their actions.</strong></p>
<p> <strong>Next UPDATE scheduled for July 14, 2005</strong></p>
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