Melvin Crespo Arce

Melvin was born in Puerto Rico and comes from a big family where he grew up with his other eleven brothers and sisters. Money was tight back then and it was up to the older brothers to help their parents financially. In an effort to make that possible and also wanting to reach new opportunities, Melvin moved to New York leaving most of his family behind where he reunited with some of his brothers and sisters who were already living in New York. He came across Susa who he had already met while in Puerto Rico and years later married. Melvin was a very visual person for which he decided to study to be a Hairdresser. He participated in several Hairstyling competitions and won prizes. His strength was hair coloring. He worked at well known hair salons and had a great following of customers. Susa worked at a jewelry factory where they designed gorgeous pieces of jewelry which were sold to high end stores in New York City. Till this date, their daughter, Joan, has some of those pieces of jewelry. Melvin and Susa worked very hard and managed to save money to buy their first home in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico in 1970. Melvin landed a job at one of the highest end hair salons where celebrities would visit and Susa worked at Timex where they assembled watches and sold to stores.

Several years later, they bought a gorgeous home in Guaynabo which was the envy of all neighbors because of their meticulous landscaping which was taken care of by Melvin himself. In 2000 they moved to Tampa, Florida and bought a home across the street from their daughter. They would see her every day. In August 2018, Susa passed away and Melvin's dementia escalated quickly. He lived alone in that big home for almost a year and even though his daughter and grandson would visit daily; the emptiness was overwhelming. He then moved to an Assisted Living facility and even though they welcomed him very warmly and he shared his days with other elderly residents, he was still missing dearly the love of his life, Susa. After two years being a widow, he now joins Susa once again along with his parents and brothers and sisters.

Please do not send flowers since there is no service.

Family will celebrate Melvin's life in the 1-year anniversary with a service and will invite friends and family for a luncheon.

Now because of the pandemic, it's not possible.

Stay safe.