Date of Service:
May 08, 2022
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Jack Mello passed away at home on March 28, 2022, in the presence of his beloved wife and dear friend. He was 73 years old.
Jack was born in Providence on May 8, 1948, to parents of Irish and Portuguese heritage and grew up in the poor mill town of Esmond, Rhode Island. He attended LaSalle Academy where he played baseball and basketball, donning his favorite number of “32,” He then attended Rhode Island College for nine (9) years, working to pay for his education costs in an iron foundry, textile mill, pallet factory, Christmas tree factory and as a bartender. His commitment to hard work, attaining goals and “can do” attitude was evident throughout his life. Jack’s glass was always half full and he was undaunted by the challenges life threw in his way.
Jack studied to become a teacher (so he could have summers off to play ball). Disheartened by the students’ apathy he lasted 4 days before he quit and then bartended full time.
After seeing pictures of Florida’s beautiful blue ocean and listening to his aunt extoll the wonderful weather, he decided a foray to the Sunshine State was “in the cards” because he had always hated the cold. He set out after his beloved Red Sox lost in the series and cried all the way to North Carolina. He started his career in insurance in 1975. In his job interview, he was told he would have to make 100 cold calls a day and he would “maybe get 1 or 2 sales.” His response was “I can do that!” Nothing deterred him. Jack loved his work and his clients, always laboring to insure the best possible result for those he served. He expanded his expertise as a financial professional and counseled his clients to insure secure and profitable retirements. Jack’s compassion and empathy for his clients led to round the clock work but resulted in enormous satisfaction for someone who just wanted to “do the right thing.” His body of work led to his induction into the Insurance Hall of Fame.
Jack was a lifelong sports enthusiast, he was the “Google” of sport statistics before the internet. He loved to play softball and was inducted into the Florida Half Century Softball Hall of Fame. Jack played and sponsored many teams, meeting and befriending the players. He not only financed their desire to play the game they loved but he became their trusted financial advisor and friend for life. Jack was a team player on the field with his teammates and with his clients. There was no “I” in team with Jack. In life and in sports Jack believed what the great Bambino said: “Never allow the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”
To know Jack was to know when he entered a room he commanded it – with a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his lips, a handshake, and a story to tell. He was magnanimous, generous, and charitable all in a humble manner. He was bigger than life but simply cared about others. When you met him, you were his friend.
Jack was still a bachelor in his fifties until he found and rekindled his romance with Diane. They had dated 20 years earlier. Jack and Diane enjoyed a loving and special relationship. She was the love of his life and “the best wife ever,” according to Jack and she was at his side during the entire time they were together. They were devoted to each other.
Jack is survived by his wife, Diane, son Michael (wife Caroline), siblings, Joe (wife Karen), Jim, Steve and Diane, and his niece, Jennifer, and nephews, Eric (wife Michelle) and Brian and his beloved cat, Beau.
A Celebration of Jack’s life will be held 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, 2022 at The Antilles Clubhouse, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Cat Hospital Angel Fund, 1820 58th Ave., Suite 108, Vero Beach, FL 32966, VNA & Hospice Foundation, 1100 35th Lane, Vero Beach, Fl 32960, Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy, 1028 29th Place, Vero Beach, Fl 32960 or HALO Rescue No-Kill Rescue Shelter, 710 Jackson St., Sebastian, Fl 32958.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
© 2024 Lowther Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.
Gary Grzybowski - Friend
March 30, 2022, 3:03 pm
So sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. Condolences to Diane and the family. Rest in peace, my friend.
JOE AND KATHY LEONE - Friends
March 31, 2022, 12:00 am
Our hearts are broken. Jack touched so many. You will not be forgotten. You are running again (no pain). Stay strong Diane. LOVE Joe and Kathy.❤️❤️
Duke & Judy Heffer - Friend
March 31, 2022, 9:47 am
What a great guy and friend. Really glad to have met him and Diane when we did, thru our brother-in-law Don Bobish.Anytime we would meet it was insurance first then it was baseball, family, and friends. We will surely miss him. Condolences to Diane and the family.
George sammons - Close friend
March 31, 2022, 10:17 am
Great friend, Great partner, Great Boss, Great husband – You are and will continued to be missed by all that were fortunate enough to have been in your presence.
Steve Hyland - Lifelong friend
March 31, 2022, 10:30 am
Hi Lady Di……Id hoped to see your boy Jack one more time but it wasn’t in the cards as he passed while we were on our way. He was a lucky man to finally get together with “the one that got away.” I remember barking at him for bringing a girl to Super Bowl wknd when I first met you in Ft L and him telling me “I’m not letting her get away again!!”
I’m sad, but happy for him that his spirit is free of his broken body. I know he’s already hitting line drives with his new teams and waiting for his favorite March Madness weekend. He led a great life, cut short too soon, but I know you’re surrounded by many of the people that loved you both. He was the BEST!!
Love you. See you soon. Steve
Ernie Schenck - Childhood friend
March 31, 2022, 2:11 pm
Jack and I grew up across the street from each other. In so many ways, those times that we shared were as rare and innocent as one could imagine and Jack was a part of it all. Hard to believe so many years have gone by since we played stickball in the street, raced our homemade soapbox cars down Fenwood Avenue and eventually discovered the Beatles and Dylan and too soon, the end of our childhoods. Jack and I lost touch as the years went by but he was a great guy and the kind of friend you never forget. My heartfelt condolences to Jack’s entire family. RIP, buddy.
Charles and Suzette Walpole - Forever friends
March 31, 2022, 3:02 pm
Charlie and I will miss you Jack. We extend our sympathies and love to Diane and the whole Mello clan.
chris gendreau - friend
March 31, 2022, 4:07 pm
Diane , I’m so sorry to hear the news of Jack’s passing. The minute I met Jack he was a friend for life. Every time I was in his company , we laughed harder than the last. Heaven has received one heck of a character and soft ball player. You and your family will be in my prayers.
Paul Mascarella - Friend
April 2, 2022, 4:52 pm
Rest in Peace my friend….we had some good times over these 30 plus years…Carmen and I will miss all the funny things you would do to close a deal.Until we meet again brother like Joe would say when I struck someone out (see ya).
Mark Nemes - Co- worker , x roommates and one of his besties
April 4, 2022, 2:28 pm
I met Jack in an elevator in Hawaii in 1985 . It was a work convention and we had our identifying name tags on. We briefly chatted and we had breaky in morning (jacks word for breakfast ) and few years later we were roommates when he relocated to Boston. It was the beginning of a long ,fun and adventurous friendship. My 5 brothers n 1 sister adopted him into the family . My nephews called him Uncle Buck (John Candy movie) . They loved him! Jackie boy could light up a room with his jokes and quotes . It s when he started dancing (we called him the dancing bear ) the real show began . Everyone I introduced him too loved him . He was definitely the life of the party. When I said to him “want to come to a family party “ his smile lit up like a kid at Xmas ! Jack was kind and thoughtful , generous and very funny . He really could have been a “stand up comedian” ! It was easy being best friends with a guy like Jack Mello. Jack was fortunate to reconnect with his best friend and wife Dianne who became his guardian angel and caretaker to the end. Super job Lady Di ! You were an amazing wife ! Jack and I spent hours on phone talking about our business , family and of course sports. He loved his Red Sox . My Boston Police brother Carl got us into the 1986 World Series for free and he never stopped talking about it and thanking him since . He will be sorely missed not just by me but by many many friends. My last words to Jack were “we had a great run buddy and he replied “ yes we did ,we definitely did “. RIP Jack Mello. Your friendship will be forever cherished . Thank you for being such a loyal friend .
Vince Knueven - Friend/Business Associate
April 7, 2022, 5:16 pm
I am truly sorry to hear about Jack’s passing.
I met Jack in 2015, when he flew into Cincinnati for a video shoot with the life insurance company I work for. Him and several other life insurance producers from across the country were brought in to present their best advice when working within the life insurance industry. No surprise, but Jack’s best advice and insights were for prospecting, networking and getting to know people right where you are. We hit it off immediately, which I think he did with pretty much anyone he met, and several of the other producers and I hung out with Jack until the wee hours in the morning. It made for a bit of a rough morning for me and the video shoot, but Jack came bee-bopping in with a huge smile on his face, telling jokes and shmoozing with the whole crew. The makeup lady said he looked like Robert DeNiro and she appeared to be a bit smitten with him. Jack rocked out a Boston Red Sox trivia game we created for him and also beat our host at a game within the video, which he seemed to love! He will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with Diane and the entire extended Mello family.
Godspeed, Jack, Godspeed.
Bob & Joanne Webster - Neighbors
April 12, 2022, 1:09 pm
The video leaves a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. We were his neighbors around the corner and had too little interaction with Jack, yet the too few times we did have always left us with a sense of his strength of character and decency… he instinctively projected a sense that he was a caring, very special man. Watching the video tributes, we’ve learned so much about Jack. We never knew of his support and enjoyment of softball or his love for cats and his Beau, a love we would have enjoyed sharing with him. The world lost a special one in Jack. It is an obligation of those who remain to honor Jack by doing what we can to fill the void he left. Diane, we’re just around the corner if you need anything.
Joe Huyler - Dear friend
April 23, 2022, 3:29 pm
To Dianne and family, so sorry to hear of Jack’s passing. We had so many good times together, all those opening days at Fenway Park and all the other good times, You were such a good friend to me and Jeannine. I will miss you forever my friend, May your soul Rest In Peace. Joe Huyler Edmond RI
Pat and Bill Burrows - friend
April 28, 2022, 6:32 pm
Our deepest sympathy to you and all the family. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time. Love, Pat and Bill Burrows