Melanie Verder Bautista - A Beloved Teacher
Mel, as she was fondly known, was an AmeriCorps volunteer, assigned to the Nativity Preparatory School as a science and mathematics teacher. Tears were mixed with poetry, prayers, and music at a packed memorial service on May 5 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. In his homily, Rev. Stan Kolasa talked about how special teachers help kids achieve impossible dreams and how Mel was one of those teachers.
"We all remember the same brilliant, beautiful, thoughtful, unique woman whose life was full of love," said close friend and co-teacher, Rachel North, with a steady voice.
Mel’s road to New Bedford began in her senior year at the University of Notre Dame, when she came to interview for a teaching position at the invitation of Notre Dame alumnus John Rompf, current principal of Nativity. She visited for a day, and said an enthusiastic, "Yes!" This enthusiasm would become the hallmark of her teaching style.
Mel's students prepared a program of memories and appreciation. Students sang, played music, recited poetry and spoke tributes to their beloved teacher. Eighth grader Andrew Dearden said, "She had an ability to be one of us, whether it was playing at the fun night, or dancing in the teacher’s room, she was still a kid at heart."
In a moment filled with pathos, Dearden turned to Mel's mother and said, "Even though you lost the love of your life you have gained 67 new family members. We can not thank you enough for allowing your daughter to be such a marvelous and astounding person. She gave us wisdom, love, perseverance, and most importantly knowledge, now it is up to us to pass it on."
The closing hymn was her favorite song, “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway musical “Rent”. The congregation clapped, swayed and prayed. At the end of the service, Mel's aunt, Dr. Rozzana Verder-Aliga, thanked New Bedford and the Nativity Prep community and friends, for its outpouring of kindness in their time of profound grief.
“You could feel the love. The church was full of it. It was heartbreaking, but there was hope and joy in remembering her. I’ll never forget it,” said Bud Bell, a family friend.
Melanie was born in Vallejo, California on August 20, 1986 and grew up in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Dr. Pamela Verder-Bautista, a pediatrician and the late Ray Bautista, champion fencer and founder of the American Fencing Academy of Dayton. Mr. Bautista died in 2004.
She graduated in 2004 with honors from Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton, Ohio. In 2008, she graduated from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Preprofessional Studies. Mel was a member of the University of Notre Dame Varsity Fencing Team. She was a gold medalist in Karate at the 2002 Junior Pan American games. She also loved ultimate Frisbee and snowboarding. After her AmeriCorps stint, she looked forward to getting a Ph.D. in psychology and becoming an adolescent psychologist.
Mel enjoyed New Bedford. She marveled at how Melville walked these streets before he wrote Moby Dick. She loved the landmarks of New Bedford’s downtown renaissance; The Whaling Museum, No Problemo, Spicy Lime, and The Green Bean.
Mel is survived by her mother, Dr. Pamela Verder-Bautista and brother Ryan, of Sacramento, California. She leaves behind a large Filipino clan in California: her grandparents Ben and Gely Verder of Sacramento, and Bob and Portia Bautista of Vallejo. She will be missed by her aunts, uncles and cousins: Miss Alice Verder, Dr. Rozzana Verder-Aliga, Col. Nestor Aliga, and cousins Nes J, Xavier, and Riz, Dr. Malou Verder-Carlos, Rommel Carlos and cousins, MJ, Tricia and Melina, Dr. Chona and Carl Peralta and cousin Maya, Atty. Reve Bautista and cousin Angela, Judy and William Velasco and cousins Wilfred and Portia.
A “Celebration of Life” service will be held in Vallejo, California on Saturday, May 9 at 4 pm. Her family has asked that donations in Mel’s memory be sent to Nativity Preparatory School at 66 Spring St., New Bedford MA 02740.