Condolence: We were saddened to read of Mel's death. We met him at the very first art show in Napa where he was selling his work almost 45 years ago. We fell in love with an exuberant vase of brown eyed susans. He explained that his wife had issued an ultimatum; sell some of his paintings or take up a new hobby. We helped him remain an artist by purchasing what was to become the first of many works of local artists in our collection. Almost twenty years later and at another art show we fell in love with a rural scene with beautiful barns only to discover it was the same artist! We occasionally ran into Mel over the years at art shows and acquired yet one more of his paintings.

The world was certainly a better place because of Mel, who developed his wonderful talent as an artist and shared it freely.