After graduating high school, Mel joined the Navy and served as a machinist mate on the USS Leary in the Mediterranean from 1948 – 1952
Upon discharge from the Navy, he pursued an education in electronics and worked for United Radio and Television. Mel built his family’s first television set!
He went on to work at ITT, Singer Kearfott, and BAE as an Electronics Technician, working on international defense, aerospace, and security systems. Mel was part of a team that developed the guided missile system for the Trident Ballistic Missiles used on submarines.
Mel was an inventor at heart and if he couldn’t find a tool for what he needed, he would invent one! He worked at a workbench that his father built years ago, doing wood working, electronics, and could fix anything you brought to him!
He was a man of many achievements, but humility was a strong characteristic of his. Family was absolutely first in his life. He enjoyed his garden and just, as he would say, “putzing around” with things!
Meeting the love of his life, Teresa, on a blind date, he was happily married to her for 62 years, and was her caregiver for several years before her passing in 2017.
Mel is loving father to Jean and her husband Steve Barrett, Barbara Atkinson, Christine and her husband Ronald Grunstra. Mel is also survived by his loving grandchildren: Jennifer and her husband Christos Tsamadias, Lisa and her husband Mark Oostdyk, Jessica and her husband Mark Weaver, Lauren, Tim, Sarah, Kelly, and Coriann; as well as his beloved great grandchildren: Despina, Lea, George, Zoe, Riley, David, Joy, Olive, Eli, and Wyatt.
Memorial Services will be held at Goble Funeral Home in Sparta, NJ on Friday July 19th from 1-3.
Repast details will be announced at the end of the service. All are welcome.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18