Amherst, William (Bill) James Mellen, 94, of Amherst, died peacefully on June 15, 2018, at Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, with his family by his side.  Born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on September 10, 1923, he was the son of the late William C. and Katherine (Denning) Mellen.  He attended public schools in Brattleboro, graduated as valedictorian in 1941, then entered Massachusetts State College, now the University of Massachusetts, in September 1942.  After one semester, he left college and enlisted in the U.S. Army.  While on furlough in August 1943, before going overseas, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Jacqueline Wyman, in Guilford, Vermont.  Three days later, he started his three years’ service as an Army Air Corps ground-station radio operator and station chief, most of which took place in Bengal Province of India (now Bangladesh). 

Honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant, Bill returned to Massachusetts State College from 1946 to 1949 where he joined Air Force ROTC.  He subsequently served in the USAF Reserve, retiring with the rank of captain in 1960.  After graduating from college magna cum laude in the spring of 1949, Bill entered graduate school at Cornell University where he earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Physiology.  After serving five years on the faculty of the University of Delaware, he returned to UMass where, for the next 30 years, he conducted research and taught in the field of poultry physiology, mentoring many students along the way.  He also served as associate and acting dean of the College of Food and Natural Resources, acting dean of the School of Home Economics, and special assistant to the provost, retiring in 1988 as professor emeritus.   

From 1960 to 1961, Bill and Jackie and their three daughters lived in Sapporo, Japan, where Bill was an exchange professor at Hokkaido University.  For 25 years hence, he participated in exchange activities between the agricultural faculties of UMass and Hokkaido University.  He also served as co-director with Jackie for groups of UMass undergraduate students attending summer sessions at Hokkaido.  In 1989, Hokkaido University awarded him an honorary doctorate.  For more than 30 years, Bill was an active member of the Amherst Philosophical Society.  He also served as chair of the boards of the Amherst Housing Authority and Hampshire County United Way.  In all settings, Bill was known for his clear and reasonable approach to resolving issues, sense of fairness, and good humor.

Bill and his family enjoyed camping, traveling, alpine skiing, and the performing arts.  He played the violin in the Pioneer Valley Orchestra.  He had a terrific singing voice and onstage comedic talent and performed in operettas while at Massachusetts State College.  He sang in the Leverett Community Chorus at age 90.  Bill was the proud father and grandfather to a family of actors, dancers, musicians, and athletes and attended many plays, concerts, and recitals, as well as volleyball and baseball games.  He would spontaneously break into song or whistle a happy tune. 

One of Bill’s greatest pleasures in his later years was a trip with his family, in 2014, to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II Memorial. Wearing his veteran’s “China, Burma, India” cap, he was hailed and thanked by many passersby along the Mall. At first nonplussed by the overwhelming attention, Bill eventually relaxed into his apparent celebrity and warmly engaged with those who asked for photos and handshakes and had questions about his WWII experiences.

Bill was a kind, gentle man with a ready wit and lighthearted sense of humor who loved his family above all and lived his life with honesty and integrity. He is survived by his daughters: Donna L. Mellen, of Leverett, and her life partner, Donald K. Carew; Kathleen A. Mellen, of Northampton, and her husband, Dr. David E. Katz; and Carol M. Rogers, of Hadley, and her husband, James S. Rogers.  Also, five grandchildren: Gretchen E. Garnett, of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and her husband, Erik C. Garnett; Leah R. Katz, of Berlin, Germany, and her husband, Noah D. Telson; Hannah A. Katz, of Burlington, Vermont, and her husband, Ainsley W. Foley; Jennifer A. Rogers, of Charlemont, and Brett W. Rogers, of Sunderland.  He also is survived by his great-grandson, Linus Q. Garnett, and great-granddaughter, Zelda B. Garnett, members of the extended Carew family, two nieces and two nephews, and a number of cousins.  He was predeceased by his wife, Jackie, in 2013, and his sister, Carol, in 1972.  The family would like to thank the staffs at The Arbors at Amherst and Hospice of the Fisher Home for their loving care of Bill.  Bill’s remains will be interred, along with his wife, Jackie’s, in Christ Church Cemetery, Guilford, Vermont.  A celebration of Bill’s life will be scheduled for a later date. 

Contributions in Bill’s name may be made to Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002 or hospice@fisherhome.org.