By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Administrators and staff members in the Millstone Township K-8 School District have paid tribute to a teacher who served the district for more than two decades.
Marcelle Mele, 61, a retired special education and language arts teacher who taught at the Millstone Township Middle School for 25 years, died on March 22.
A district administrator said she died of complications from a heart attack.
According to an obituary from the Mastapeter Funeral Home, Bayville, Mele was born in Hackensack and resided in Bayville. She retired from teaching in 2015.
“Ms. Mele was a highly respected special education and language arts teacher who worked in Millstone Township for 25 years,” Superintendent of Schools Scott Feder said in a letter to parents. “Although recently retired, Ms. Mele touched the lives of so many of our community members.
“For those of you who knew Ms. Mele, or knew of her, you understand what a loss this is for our staff, her family and her loved ones,” Feder said. “Ms. Mele was an energetic, loving and compassionate person who cared for everyone and welcomed all into her life with open arms. Even in her retirement, she kept in touch with many staff members, former students and families. Ms. Mele will be dearly missed by many.”
“I, like many of you, am thankful for the time I had the pleasure of working with Marcelle,” Millstone Township Middle School Principal Christopher Huss said in a note to district staff. “She had a larger-than-life personality, a passion for education and a desire to help everyone she could. She will be greatly missed by so many. Please take a moment of silence, say a prayer or reflect on a great memory in honor of this wonderful woman who will be dearly missed.”
“(Mele) loved Millstone and Millstone loved her,” teacher Bernadette Heine said in an email to Huss. “She was so dedicated to educating young kids, especially those that needed extra love and care. She loved Millstone and Millstone loved her. The proof came in the outpouring of texts, email, pop-ins, talks in the hallway, dinners, funds raised and prayers.”
“(Marcelle) was one of the most loved and respected teachers within our district,” Board of Education President Sal Casale said. “Even after her retirement last year, Marcelle kept in touch with members of the staff and was always someone who could be counted on as not only a friend, but a mentor as well. Her presence will surely be missed.”
An online fundraiser is seeking $5,000 to help Mele’s family cover her medical expenses. The fundraiser can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/9w5nnw-love-for-marcelle-mele
As of March 30, $1,805 had been donated.