Mel was life-long sport enthusiast and N.Y. Yankee Baseball fanatic. He was a strong believer and supporter of the State of Israel and many Jewish causes. Mel leaves behind a wife of 43 years, three devoted children and six grandchildren. As a retailer, he was a community activist and a board member of the Yankee Stadium Area Merchants Association where he worked feverishly on the McCombs Dam Project whose mission was to improve the fields around the stadium for the benefit of the youth in the Bronx, NY. Mel was the most dedicated J.W.V. member and Post 756 member.