NATICK: The family of Mr. William Melanson invite you to join them in celebrating his life on Saturday, November 29th at 2:00PM in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common. Relatives and friends may gather at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
William A. Melanson, age 79, a former longtime resident of Natick, currently of Waltham, died on Tuesday afternoon, October 7, 2014, at MetroWest Medical Center in Natick. He was the devoted husband of Joan E. (Daniels) Melanson for 55 years.
Born in Cambridge and raised in Somerville, he was the son of William A. and Anita (LeBlanc) Melanson. Bill was graduated from Somerville High School in 1953 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Boston University in 1957. He went on to serve two years with the Navy and remained a reservist until 1963.
Bill and Joan were married in September of 1959, and made their home in several cities as his career advanced with John Hancock. A Group Claims Office Manager, he had held positions in Atlanta, Saint Louis, Indianapolis and Buffalo, and ultimately, Boston, where he was Director of Pharmaceutical claims. He and his family settled in Natick in 1972.
During his high school and college summer breaks, Bill had been employed as a lifeguard at Walden Pond, and his memories of that time were cherished throughout his life. He enjoyed several years of involvement with the Natick Comets while his sons were young, and found time to offer his talents as a Trustee of Natick’s Leonard Morse Hospital. In the 1990’s Bill was a Trustee of the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, and after his retirement from John Hancock he enjoyed time with family and friends, particularly his grandchildren.
He is survived by Joan, (Wellesley College, retired) and his son, Keith P. Melanson of Sherborn. His son, Kenneth R. Melanson, passed away in 2004 from ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.) Kenneth’s wife, Cynthia Melanson, currently resides in South Bend, IN.
Bill was the loving grandfather of Elizabeth “Ellie” Melanson, currently at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, Bryn Melanson, a student at UNC Chapel Hill, and Connor Melanson and Hunter Melanson, high school and junior high school students respectively, in South Bend, IN. He is also survived by his many cousins.
A Memorial Service will be held in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Saturday, November 29th at 2:00PM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers a donation to ALS TDI in Bill’s memory would be appreciated. (www.als.net or ALS TDI, 300 Technology Square, Suite 400, Cambridge, MA 02139.)