Albert G. Melvin, 79, passed away on Nov. 28 at Miles Memorial Hospital, after a long illness.
He was born Sept. 19, 1927, in Jersey City, N.J., where his parents, the late Albert and Harriet Melvin settled after leaving Halifax, Nova Scotia. From the time he was an infant, Al spent all or part of his summers with relatives in Nova Scotia.
After graduating from Saint Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J., he attended the Merchant Marine Academy in San Mateo, Cal. He was a midshipman on the SS Sedalia Victory, bringing soldiers home from Germany and Japan at the end of WWII.
He then returned to New Jersey and attended New Jersey City University where he met his wife, Joan. He graduated in 1952 and began his teaching career in the Roselle public schools, where he remained for 15 years teaching classes from grades 5-12. In addition, he taught evening classes on boating safety for the Coast Guard auxiliary.
In 1967, he graduated from Teachers’ College, Columbia University, N.Y. He majored in historical geography, and then became a professor at the College of New Jersey for the next 20 years. In 1981-82, he was an exchange professor at Worcester College, Worcester, England. He ended his teaching career in 1987 when he was chair of the Geosciences Department.
In 1995, when his wife retired, Al realized his lifelong dream of living in Maine when they bought a home in Bremen.
He is survived by his wife, Joan; son, Douglas of Redlands, Cal.; daughter, Valerie Cortelyou, her husband David, and their children: Nicole, Marielle and Jacob of Parker, Col.; and cousins, Doris Mackinnon and Thelma Arsenau of Halifax, Nova Scotia.
There will be a private funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bremen First Responders, Bremen, ME 04551, or Safe Harbor Kennel, 113 Waldoboro Rd., Bremen, ME 04551.
Arrangements are under the direction of Coast of Maine Cremation Funeral Service, Waldoboro.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Miles Memorial Hospital and Miles Home Health and Hospice for their care and support over the past years.
