Obituary of Melvin T. Fowler

Melvin Thaddeus Fowler Sr. was born September 7, 1939, in Freeport, a village in the town of Hempstead, in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island in New York to the late Rev. Harmon and Beulah Mae Fowler. He was the eighth of nine children born to this union.

Melvin attended school in Freeport and graduated from Freeport High School in 1958. He went on to Play Football at Lincoln University "The Nation's First Degree-Granting HBCU." Melvin was a real "Sports Jock"! He loved to play all sports but mastered Lacrosse and Football. He did not care too much for baseball because he thought "there was too much standing around."

Melvin grew up attending church regularly with his parents and siblings, where he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was in the Church that Melvin also found his Love for Music and learned to play the Piano and Trumpet. In his later years, he joined Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix, AZ.

In March of 1962, Melvin married Beverly Chaffin. To this union Beverly gave birth to five children: Melvin Steven, Wendy, Blair, Aja, and Donna. Melvin and Beverly later divorced.

In August of 1978 Melvin married his second wife Lucinda Walker, Lucinda had two children Darryl and Kevin Walker from a previous marriage. Melvin loved Darryl and Kevin as he loved all of his children. To this union Lucinda gave birth to their son, Melvin Jr.

Melvin Sr. was an expert Newspaper Pressman whose skills were widely recognized in the industry. He worked at Photo News in Bethpage NY in the early 1960’s, Balan Printing in Brooklyn NY from the mid 1960’s to 1985 when he was hired by Long Island Newsday where he was promoted to Press Supervisor in 1994 and worked there until 2001 when he retired after recovering from lung cancer surgery. Melvin was also an entrepreneur who owned and operated M&S Country Market in Amityville NY in the mid 1970’s.

Melvin enjoyed music; Gospel, R&B, Soul, Jazz, etc. He was an audiophile. He loved all genres of music including R&B and Jazz. But Jazz was different. He really loved Jazz! Maybe it’s the improvisation. Or the synchronicity of the band members. Almost always his appreciation for the living legends would also come with a music history lesson.

In early 2001 Melvin began to feel ill and unlike himself. The doctors suspected cancer but required further testing to confirm. It was true, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Melvin and Lucinda contacted their Niece Wanda who at the time was an RN in the Oncology Department at Mary Washington Hospital in VA. Wanda consulted with Dr. Daniels one of the nation’s leading Cancer Surgeons who recommended a pet scan and recommended that Melvin have surgery to remove the mass. Dr. Daniels introduced Melvin and Lucinda to Dr. Valerie W. Rusch a Thoracic Surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. Dr. Rusch performed lifesaving surgery which allowed Melvin to live 23 more years exceeding his post operative life expectancy by more than 20 years! He was able to follow his son Melvin Jr’s NFL career where he and Lucinda traveled to see every game. However, he was later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018 and had a Whipple Surgery to remove the cancer and portions of different organs. The Surgery was a success and he again beat the odds to live 5 more years following the pancreatic surgery. Melvin was a strong and resilient person with a strong and supportive wife who with the help of Wanda and the family helped Melvin to overcome the odds. Melvin considered the staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC to be his Guardian Angels and they never let him down! He dedicated his life to helping cancer victims and their families find the proper treatment.

On March 1, 2024, our beloved Melvin passed away peacefully and is now in Heaven. Melvin was preceded in death by his wife Lucinda in 2020. Melvin was also preceded in death by his parents Rev. Harmon and Beulah Mae Fowler, seven brothers: William Solomon, Harmon Jr., James, Plummer Emanuel, Jeremiah, Joseph and one sister: Lenora Elizabeth. He is survived by his children; Melvin Steven Sr. (Pat), Wendy, Blair (Keri), Aja, Donna, Darryl Walker, Kevin (Tyra) Walker, Melvin Jr., his nephew David (Karen) Drake whom he and Lucinda continued to raise after the passing of David’s mother Lenora. Melvin leaves to cherish his memory one brother; Alfred "Goose" Fowler, his best friend Louis LoPiccolo, sisters in law; Olivia, Jewel, Sarah B. Webster (Daniel Sr.), Ethel (Elder George) Johnson, Laura "Jagaad" (Maypoor) Owen, Cynthia Mikell, four brothers in law; Jerry Garrison Sr., James H.(Soffie), Garrison, Harold (Liz) Garrison, William Garrison, Jared (Melody) Garrison, five grandchildren; Christine, Melvin Steven Jr.( Jacqui-Pearl), Jeremy, Nia, Raven, four great grandchildren; Lawson, Isaiah, Jamiah, Seth, several nieces and nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.