Robin E Merrill, of El Cerrito, CA, passed away on December 23rd, after a short and hard fought battle with ampulla of vater cancer (a cancer so rare it doesn't have an entry on the American Cancer Society website, and is often treated in the same manner as pancreatic cancer). He was 49.

Robin was born on August 12, 1973, to Dwight & Gloria Merrill in Columbus, OH. After graduating from El Cerrito High School he became an Eagle Scout with Troop 104. He went on to earn a Bachelor's in Geographic Information Science and was a valued member of the Novato Sanitary District office for nearly 20 years.

An interest in photography started in a high school photography class that lasted to this day. He loved photographing flowers, juggling, sporting events, bridges, and astronomy events, such as the night sky, meteors and solar eclipses, even travelling to Madras, Oregon to camp & photograph the total solar eclipse with his siblings. He loved watching rocket launches, science and language videos and anime-style series. He recently rewatched all the Miyazaki films and the launch of the Artemis I rocket to the moon. He was also a programer and video gamer from his youth playing Atari at home and Street Fighter II at 7-Eleven, which combined in becoming a MAME contributor and, more recently, a Steam.Deck early adopter.

His best friend, Chad, hosted card, mahjong parties that Robin enjoyed very much, and joined an extended group of friends to play volleyball (he lettered in volleyball in high school and was in various club teams in his twenties).

Robin is survived by his parents, Dwight and Gloria, his brother Adrian (Zhongfeng) and his sister Crystal, who were all by his side at the end.

A private scattering of ashes will be held when the flowers bloom.

In lieu of flowers, you might contribute to a favorite charity.

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