Thomas Michael Melo

Thomas Michael Melo, beloved husband of Tina, devoted and proud father to Caroline and Virginia, died Monday, the 7th of December 2015, at age 63. Tom (Tommy to many) was a true Southern gentleman, loyal to his friends, kind to people from all walks of life, and ever striving to live a Christian life.

Tom was born the 12th of April 1952, in San Bernadino, California to Bob and Dot Melo. He was raised in the Atlanta suburb of Tucker, Georgia with younger brother Bobby and surrounded by his mother’s extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Tom graduated from Tucker High School, Class of 1970, and served as president of his senior class. He then graduated with a BBA in accounting with high honors from the University of Georgia in 1974. Among Tom’s numerous activities and awards, he was most proud of serving as president of his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), the first year it won the Cheney Cup as most outstanding chapter in the country. He also served as President of the Student Union, was a Summer Orientation Leader, and was selected as a member of Gridiron Secret Society, Blue Key National Honor Society, and the Sphinx Club, the oldest honor society at Georgia.

Tom received his JD from the University of Virginia in 1977, where he and his future law partner Jim Flegle won the William Minor Lile Moot Court competition, and on a lighter note, he played Dean John Jeffries in the Libel Show. He was selected as a member of the Raven Society, the oldest honor society at UVa.

Tom moved to Houston, Texas in 1977 to join Bracewell and Patterson, where he and his late mentor Scott Kneese and friend Bob McBee started Bracewell’s labor and employment section. Under Scott and Tom’s leadership, it grew into one of the premier employment law groups in Texas. Tom was board-certified in labor and employment law, and was elected to membership in the American College of Employment and Labor attorneys. He was highly regarded and respected by labor and employment attorneys throughout Texas, having close friends representing both management and employees, in government agencies such as OSHA and the EEOC, and in the legal and HR departments of his clients. While at Bracewell, he served as chairman of the attorney employment committee, was elected to the management committee twice, and was instrumental in opening the San Antonio office. From 2004-06, Tom was a shareholder at the national employment law firm of Ogletree Deakins with many good friends, and his family appreciates the support of that firm during the difficult process of diagnosing Tom’s young-onset dementia.

Tom was named an Outstanding Young Houstonian by the Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce, served as chairman of the statewide Texas Association of Business, and as vice-chair of the governing board of Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos. He was a longtime member of the Houston Club downtown and the Briar Club, and a resident of West University and Southside Place for over 30 years.

A lifelong Methodist, Tom was a man of consistent faith, who strongly believed being a Christian meant respecting those with beliefs, opinions and lifestyles other than our own. Tom and Tina have been members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and the Gene Decker Sunday School class since their marriage in 1983. Tom served as one of the church’s first mission committee chairs and on its Houston Project Committee. He was enrolled at the Houston campus of SMU’s Perkins Seminary for 2 years with the intention of retiring early from his legal practice to serve his church and community----plans sadly derailed by his illness.

Tom enjoyed dove, duck, geese and deer hunting with Scott Kneese, Bob and Frank McBee, and many other friends, legal colleagues and clients. While he took his family on many wonderful vacations, including Europe with Tim Cooper, he was most content sitting on his farmhouse porch in Shiner, Texas watching the sunsets with his beloved family and listening to Jimmy and George.

Tom was diagnosed with young-onset dementia in January of 2006. Mayor Bill White declared the 13th of February 2006, as Thomas Melo Day in Houston in honor of his retirement. Even after his diagnosis, Tommy participated in church mission trips to Alaska and Maine, attended Georgia football games with his fraternity brothers, and continued to meet his friends for lunch as long as he was able. He was proud to participate from 2006-2009 in an Alzheimer’s clinical trial at Baylor College of Medicine, and was honored by the Parsley family in 2012 with proceeds from their annual golf tournament endowing a fund at Sheltering Arms to provide adult day care assistance to low income families.

Our family especially thanks 3 groups of friends----Tom’s ever loyal FIJI fraternity brothers, numerous legal colleagues including Tom’s clients and particularly Tina’s FizerBeck family, and our St. Luke’s church family----all of these people truly blessed Tom’s journey to the River Jordan. The family would also like to thank Tom’s doctors and the staff at Gardens of Bellaire, where Tom spent his final years. Finally, a big thanks to Tommy’s many private caregivers who have truly been part of our family since 2008, led by Sid Gerber, Olivia Hererra and Myrtle Reid.

In addition to his wife and daughters, Tom is survived by his parents Bob and Dot Melo, brother Bobby Melo, nieces Emily and Meghan Melo, and many cousins. He was predeceased by his grandparents Alvin Bradley, Maggie Bradley, and Dorothy A. Melo, many aunts and uncles, and his first cousin Nic Nicolo, who will be waiting for Tommy in heaven with a fishing pole, and where Scott Kneese has undoubtedly already leased the best hunting places.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock this evening, the 9th of December, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service will be held at four o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 10th of December, in the sanctuary of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road, in Houston, where Dr. Tom Pace, Senior Pastor is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held at a venue to be announced during the service.

Burial will be held at Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Tucker, Georgia at a later date.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family welcomes contributions to the Nick Finnegan Counseling Center, an outreach ministry of St. Luke’s, 2714 Joanel, Houston, TX 77027; the Alzheimer’s Association, Houston and Southeast Texas chapter, 6055 South Loop East, Houston TX 77087; and The Class of 1977 Scholarship Fund, UVa Law School Foundation, 580 Massie Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903.

For those reading this obituary who did not know Tommy personally, please invite someone you know dealing with dementia---the diagnosed or their caregiver---to lunch or better yet, dinner. (Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: verse 40)