Dr. Mel has Died

Today, WTNH reported that their longtime Meteorologist passed away at 66 years old.

WTNH reports that Dr. Mel, "had been fighting Multiple myeloma for a number of years." 

Dr. Mel, who has been with WTNH since 1986 from the station in October, 2011.

“While Dr. Mel has touched the life of nearly everyone in Connecticut over the past four decades, his imprint on Western Connecticut State University has been especially significant,” said university President James Schmotter. “Not only did Dr. Mel begin our meteorology program — still the only one of its kind in the state — and our weather center, he was an inspiring mentor for generations of students."

Prior to retiring, Dr. Mel had been working from his home weather station and reported about from his porch just hours before his home was badly damaged.  

WTNH reports that VP and General Manager Mark Higgins said in an e-mail to station staff, "We not only lost a great journalist today, but a great humanitarian and close friend."

In November, 2011, Dr. Mel was present at Connecticut Hospice in Branford to accept an award on behalf of the facility, which to receive certification as a palliative hospital or end-of-life-care facility. 

At the event he said to the crowd, "I’ve lived in this area for decades and I always admired the work was doing but you know, I never thought I might be in a situation where I’d personally be looking to Hospice to help my own situation.” He added, "From a patient’s standpoint, here is a place where you can go and you can really feel the warmth and the love that is in all our hearts. You can see it, feel it, touch it as it comes out and touches the patients that are here.”

Please remember Dr. Mel here in the comments section.