John C. Melia

Mr. Melia was born on June 21, 1932 in Brooklyn, NY the son of the late Christopher and Alice (Neville) Melia. He married Mary Heavey on August 31, 1957. She predeceased him on August 5, 1998. John then married Mary Doherty who predeceased him on December 2, 2016. John was also predeceased by his uncle, Alexander P. Lamb on May 12, 1973 and his son John S. Melia on September 26, 1997.

John graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, NY in 1949. He then went on to enlist in the United States Navy where he proudly served for 22 years of active duty followed by 8 years in the Navy Reserves. He grew to the rank of Senior Chief and was responsible for directing the training for the Nuclear Welding Program where he taught over 2,000 students each year. Following his retirement from the Navy, John established Melia Construction, Inc. in 1972. John was a lifetime member of the Chesterfield Fire Department where he was Assistant Chief. John was former president of the Niantic Rotary Club and was a recipient of the Paul Harris award. One of John's greatest joys in life was boating with his family and friends and you could find him docked at Gwenmor Marina in Mystic or at Payne's Dock on Block Island. John loved skiing and was an avid animal lover, rescuing countless animals over the years. He had a love for cars, especially enjoying his many cadillacs. John also loved golf and was a lifetime member of the Great Neck Country Club.

His Irish heritage led him to his cousins in Ireland on a very special trip with his daughters in 2018. He experienced his father’s homeland, visiting relatives and birth places, and of course a few pubs for a pint and many delicious meals with family.

John is survived by his daughters; Anne Marie (Melia) McParland and Kathleen (Melia) Morton. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Donald Morton III, his wife Amy and their children Joshua and Briella; John Melia Jr. and his wife Natasha; Marylin (Morton) Shukis and her husband Joshua; Andrew Melia; Patrick McParland and his daughter Riley; and Meghan (McParland) Nadel and her husband Steven. John is also survived by his extended family; Stephen Doherty and his wife, Kathy, and their children Ann and Erin; John Doherty and his son, Sean; and Kathleen Bergeron and husband, Peter and children Brian and Meghan Bergeron and Peter and Christopher Comfort.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 13, 2021 at 11:00am in St. Joseph Church, 149 Montauk Ave., New London, CT. Interment will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London. Calling Hours will be held on Sunday, December 12, 2021 from 4:00 until 7:00pm in Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 181 Ocean Ave, New London, CT. Following the funeral, the family would like to invite friends and family to gather at one of John’s favorite restaurants, Langley’s at Great Neck Country Club, Waterford, CT. Please visit www.fultontherouxnewlondon.com for tributes and directions.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Animal Welfare League of Southeastern CT, Saint Jude Children’s Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.