Obituary: Mario Melendez

Mario Melendez 1925 ~ 2006 Dr. Mario Melendez, our dad and grandfather, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 3, 2006 from complications following a stroke. Mario was born on December 23, 1925 in San Antonio, Chile, to Juana Luisa Craig and Agustin Melendez. He was educated in Chile, Brazil. He married Gloria Schaffer on December 30, 1957 in Bountiful, Utah. They were later divorced. Mario taught at the Universidad Tecnica in Santiago, Chile. In 1970, he received his Ed. D from Brigham Young University. He subsequently taught at the University of Utah and was instrumental in establishing the Chicano Mobile Institute. Education was always important to him and he instilled this value in the lives of his children. Mario was the Honorary Consul of Chile in Utah for 25 years. As Honorary Consul, he worked closely with the LDS Church on humanitarian and missionary projects as well as serving innumerable people in the intermountain west. He was well loved and respected in this position. Mario was a resident of the Ben Albert Apartments in downtown Salt Lake City for many years. He loved his neighbors and enjoyed playing poker and dominoes. Mario was a lifelong Catholic and served his fellow parishioners and community in many capacities. Mario was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Hugo Melendez. He is survived by his five children: Bunny (Mark) Stone, Mark (Charlotte) Melendez-Christensen, Terry (Suzanne) Melendez, Holly (Floyd) Tippetts, and Patsi (Craig) Smith, 22 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He also has family in Santiago who will miss him greatly. Funeral services will be held on Saturday 11:00 a.m. at the Neil O'Donnell and Sons Mortuary 372 East 100 South. Where friends may call from 10:00-11:00 a.m. also at the mortuary. Committal Mt. Calvary Cemetery 4th Ave. & T Street. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Orem Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the excellent care they gave Mario.