Melissa Corcoran Niskala

Melissa was born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 24, 1980 to Michael and Marga (nee Ippolito) Corcoran. She met the love of her life, Aaron Niskala at Rolling Y Ranch where she enjoyed horseback riding and spent many summers there. Their romance began while the two were in marching band together in high school. They were married on November 29, 2008 and shared 26 beautiful years together.

She is the cherished sister to Mercedes Richardson (Andrew) and the late Michael Corcoran; devoted Aunt to River Richardson; cherished daughter in law to Ralph Niskala and Dianne Niskala, sister in law to Trevor Niskala and beloved Cat Mom to the late Charlotte and the late Napoleon.

Melissa’s alma mater was vast and impressive. She studied Abroad at L'Institute de Touraine in Tours, France in 2001 and participated in the National Student Exchange to Utah State University in 2002. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2004. She was granted a Visual Art License from Notre Dame University in 2008 and attended Miami University where she obtained a Master of Arts in Zoology in 2014.

Melissa was a teacher for 20 years ranging from elementary to high school. She started her career in 2004, camp counseling at Camp Adventure in Hohne, Germany and worked for the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as a Senior Camp Counselor and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as a Summer Sampler Counselor. She was an Art Instructor at the Cleveland Museum of Art from 2007-2011, and ventured into substitute teaching in Lakewood, Fairview Park, Rocky River and Avon Lake. She taught at Hope Academy West and Parma Community School, until her move to the western states, where she taught for Albion Middle School in Sandy, Utah and Sunset Ridge School in Phoenix, Arizona. Most recently she taught Ceramics at Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Her classroom was always a safe place for all students as she deeply believed in inclusivity. She was a positive influence to hundreds of children over the years and was beloved by her students. She had a passion for nature and our earth – almost a spiritual connection to these things.

Melissa was undoubtedly a talented artist. She loved to be in nature, enjoyed traveling and spending time with animals.

"People always ask if you are happy. Over the years I’ve realized it's impossible to be happy 100% of the time. All you can do is find moments of happiness. Traveling and nature are my moments"

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Melissa’s name may be made to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network Foundation at PO Box 908, Sealy, Texas 77474, www.theibcnetwork.org or the Kitten Krazy Inc., Cat Shelter and Adoption Center at 930 Lafayette Road, Unit A, Medina, OH 44256 or at Kittenkrazy.org

Celebration of Life for Melissa will be held on Saturday February 15, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Stillwater Place at 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109.