Edward Knox Mellon

Edward Knox Mellon, Jr., 84, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away on August 8, 2021. Longtime Florida State University chemistry professor Dr. Ed Mellon passed away peacefully on August 8, 2021, at Westminster Oaks, under the care of Big Bend Hospice. Edward Knox Mellon, Jr., was born on October 8, 1936, to Edward and Margaret Mellon in Rochester, New York, where his father played trumpet with the Eastman Rochester Symphony. When he was three, the family moved to Texas. Upon graduation from Austin High School in 1954, he immediately joined the U. S. Marine Corps. He often commented that the Marines taught him the "command presence" to be a good teacher. After completing his two-year enlistment he attended the University of Texas and earned a PhD in chemistry. When he graduated, Dr. Robert Parry, who remained his mentor throughout his teaching career, offered him a postdoctoral position at the University of Michigan, where he met his wife of 55 years, Dianne. In 1966 they married and moved to Tallahassee, where he joined the faculty of the Chemistry Department at FSU. His primary interest was chemical education and he was recognized widely in Florida and nationally, receiving numerous awards, including the Chemical Manufacturers Association Catalyst Award in 1985 and the Distinguished Teaching Award from Florida State University in 1990. He also served as chair of the Chemistry Department prior to his retirement. A longtime associate and friend, Ron Clark, observed that Ed was responsible for producing a lot of good chemists during his years at FSU. "He was the consummate teacher," added Tom Berger, a graduate assistant and postdoc for Dr. Mellon and presently a chemistry professor at Tallahassee Community College. "He always said the sun never set on an ungraded exam. We always gave them back the very next day of class." Berger remembered that Dr. Mellon quickly learned the names of the hundreds of students that came through his classes. Ed inherited a love of trains from his father. He and Dianne enjoyed a lifetime of memorable trips on the rails across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. They chose their home in Tallahassee because it was close enough to the railroad tracks so Ed could hear the train whistle every day. He loved music, ranging from Mozart to Bill Monroe. He played mandolin in several bands in Ann Arbor and Tallahassee and after retirement he and his group made a CD of railroad songs, "Making Smoke for Jacksonville." He was a long-time supporter of the Tallahassee Symphony, the Thomasville Entertainment Foundation, the Metropolitan Opera, and classical station WFSQ-FM. Good food was among his passions. He and Dianne dined at Kool Beanz every Tuesday and Little Italy every Thursday, and he enjoyed a weekly Saturday stop at Whataburger with his buddy Ron Clark. Every Saturday night he served spaghetti made from a family recipe. The couple spent many happy hours on Dog Island, where they built a weekend home in the early 1980s. They also returned every summer to Dianne's home state to visit family and enjoy Lake Michigan. He also enjoyed swimming at the Myers Park pool, reading, and the many Mellon cats. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Margaret Mellon. He is survived by his wife Dianne and sister-in-law Kathy Van Loo and her husband Brent Kallestad. The family wishes to thank the staff at Westminster Oaks for their kindness and care. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to WFSQ-FM, 1600 Red Barber Plaza, Tallahassee, FL 32310 or to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32308. A gathering in his memory will be held at a later date. The family is being assisted by James Sircy and Jackie Fulford of Young Fulford Funeral Home and Crematory, Tallahassee, Florida. (850) 610-4444 YoungFulford.com

Edward Knox Mellon

October 8, 1936 - August 8, 2021