in 1950 she met and married hermann merkin, a german-jewish businessman, who was twelve years her senior. they had six children and were married for almost fifty years until his death in 1999 at the age of 91. ursula and hermann merkin sponsored the new york venue merkin concert hall and were involved in a variety of yeshiva university functions as well as with other jewish philanthropies. they were also deeply devoted to fifth avenue synagogue, of which hermann merkin was the founding president.