Melvin Paul DuBois

Melvin Paul DuBois was born on April 11, 1982 to loving parents, Melvin D. DuBois and Barbara Chitrit, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was also raised by supportive step-parents Isaac Chitrit and Sherry DuBois. Both of his homes were filled with warmth as he grew up with six step-siblings: Luke Tower, Chelsea Tower, Ellisa Faldet, Sam Chitrit, Sharon Chitrit and Nancy Chitrit. Melvin graduated from King High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University.

While living in Texas, Melvin fearlessly chased hurricanes with his surfboard in hand and his passion for surfing led him to make a new home in San Diego, California. In 2005, Melvin packed his bags and drove his pickup truck to San Diego, where he spent hours every day riding the waves of the Pacific Ocean. In 2006, he moved to Ocean Beach where he met an amazing group of friends and spent his days playing darts, telling stories, BBQing and soaking in the San Diego sunshine.

In 2008, Melvin met his wife, Catherine DuBois. They fiercely fell in love and spent every possible moment together. In August of 2009, Melvin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Over the next four years, Melvin would endure several rounds of Chemotherapy, two bone marrow transplants, countless biopsies, and two clinical trials. During their journey together Melvin and Catherine adopted two kittens, Bella and Chloe, purchased a home in Santee, and welcomed a new family member, Dexter the German Shepherd. On November 16, 2013, Melvin lost his battle to cancer surrounded by his family and friends at UCSD Thornton Hospital.

Through his years of pain and struggle, Melvin never lost sight of the love and appreciation he had for his life, family, friends, strangers and God. He was the type of man that inspired others not only to be better people but to also pay it forward. For that and so much more, the world is darker without him here, but heaven just became a little brighter.

A San Diego memorial service will be held on Friday, November 22nd at Beardsley-Mitchell Funeral Home in Ocean Beach: 1818 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA. Visitation hours will be held from 9-11am and the service will begin at 11am.

The procession for burial will directly follow the memorial service at El Camino Memorial Park: 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA.

Melvin's Texas memorial service will be held on December 7th in Corpus Christi - details TBD.

All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Moores Cancer Center or Patient Advocate Foundation, two organizations that provided Melvin with invaluable assistance over the years.

Moores Cancer Center: http://cancer.ucsd.edu/about-us/donations/Pages/default.aspx

Patient Advocate Foundation: http://www.patientadvocate.org/index.php?p=207