Melvin T. Kessler

Mel Kessler, born and bred in Brooklyn, NY

Mel played Varsity Basketball at James Madison HS, for legendary coach Jammy Moscowitz.

In 1955, they won the PSL Bklyn Championship, but lost the NY City Championship to Jamaica

HS at Madison Square Garden, NYC.

Attended Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA, on a basketball scholarship, when that school

was still Division One. As team captain, he averaged 21+ points and 15+ rebounds/game.

At the 1959 season’s end, Mel was selected to ALL ECAC teams, & had a college career with

over 1,000 points, playing against formidable opponents like Villanova!

In later years, Mel was inducted into the Muhlenberg College Athletic Hall of Fame. Most of his

records still stand, more than 60 years later!

Mel’s career path began as head coach at Nazareth, PA HS (1959-1962); until his father’s heart

attack had Mel returning to NY to be close by.

He taught social studies and was head coach at Wantagh, LI HS from 1963-69. Noteworthy is

that at both Nazareth and Wantagh, the teams had abysmal records when Mel began, & both

went on to winning seasons under him. Several of his players went on to college, playing

basketball & earning degrees.

In 1966-67, Mel was selected by the NY Daily news as Nassau County, LI Coach of the year.

In 1969, Mel became assistant coach at basketball powerhouse, New Haven College, but was

disillusioned by the low pay & missed NY.

Mel joined the international financial firm of Merrill Lynch in 1969, as a Financial Consultant.

During his 31-year tenure, he rose in the company to the rank of Sr. Vice President & opened &

managed their Great Neck satellite office, which, under Mel’s leadership, became one of the

most customer-oriented and best-producing offices in the eastern region.

He enjoyed every day of his 31 years at Merrill Lynch, even the not-so-good ones, and missed

less than a total of one week in that entire time.

Mel retired in 2001 at age 64, despite predictions that he would be a poor retiree because he

was considered a workaholic. Thanks to his computer & the South Florida Basketball Fraternity,

where he was reunited with old friends, teammates & opponents, all of whom are his close

friends, Mel became an excellent retiree with no regrets.

He liked to say that by marrying Kitty he entered his last career: Swim Coach. As his favorite

song, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” says: Mel “did it HIS way….right up to the end. Mel believed

that every person makes decisions which conclusively affect the directions of their lives. Along

“his way”, Mel mentored & was friend & loved one to many. He was warm, generous to a fault,

& the most steadfast friend most people will ever know.

Mel, and his wife of 36 years, Kitty, both animal lovers, had many wonderful & amazing furry

babies: 12 cats & one dog. (As many as 5 cats at one time; ALL of whom slept in the bed with

them!)

Mel was pre-deceased by his parents, Marge & Harry Kessler, sister Abby Shreefter, niece Judy Silva & many close friends and cousins. He is with them now, watching over those he left behind. He leaves his wife Kitty, of 36 years, beloved & loving stepchildren: Lisa (Brian), Dennis (Eva) & Andrew (Nataliya) Cupit, granddaughters Sofia & Alexandra Cupit, niece Sue Veno (Gerry) & grandniece Heather Trenholm (Matthew), and much loved cats, Azure & Indigo & his Chihuahua, Cielo (former puppy-mill breeder

who is living up to her name, and living in doggie Heaven; but misses her Daddy terribly).