Alfred Lewis Melenbacker, Jr.

Notes:

Alfred L. Melenbacker, of Truro, lifelong artist and creator of the Kendall Gallery over 50 years ago, died in Truro on January 11, 2014.

Alfred was born in 1920 in Rochester, N.Y. and graduated from Syracuse University – College
of Fine Arts. He taught at the Creative Art Workshop at Rochester University while owning a large farm where he raised and trained jumpers, bred dalmations and farmed many acres of christmas trees in Springwater, N. Y. He worked in Research and Development for Kodak before moving to Wellfleet to start the D. E. Kendall Art Galleries in 1961. He also owned galleries in Litchfield CT, New Hope, Pa and Sarasota, Fl.. He created the Pisces Art Gallery on Nantucket and in Wellfleet while he lived in Truro. He spent years in Camden, Maine where he had an open studio and showed his work in local galleries. He returned to Truro in 1989 where he continued his painting and working on large Corten steel sculptures and showing his work in his open studio.

He showed his work with the Truro Group, Provincetown Museum and A Will O' The Wisp for the last 14 years. He won many Awards in the Rochester/Buffalo, New York area. A large gate commission of a buffalo being chased by Chief Joseph on horseback and installed at the Chief Joseph Ranch in Montana was featured in Architectural Digest, June 1994. He was an early innovator of sculpting in polymer resins and synthetic media and his work was featured in Painting with Synthetic Media by Russell Woody (1965). His work is featured in many private, public and corporate collections throughout the United States.

Al leaves his loving companion, Roberta Lema of Truro, his son Eric Melenbacker and wife, Wendy of Rochester, N.Y., his daughter, Ingrid Melenbacker and husband, John DeLaura of Springfield, Va., his daughter, Celia Melenbacker and husband, Jackson Harris of Gainesville, Va., his daughter, Lisa Siegel, of Sand Diego, Ca. Daughter, Amy McMullen and husband, Bob in Phoenix, AZ. and many grandchildren, great-grand children and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. In his name, donations can be made to Hospice, Mass Appeal or the Truro Rescue.

Family/Spouse: Mary Eileen McMaster. Mary (daughter of John Wilhelm McMaster and Helen Mae Durkee) was born on 19 Apr 1921 in West Sparta, Livingston County, New York; died in Jul 2018 in Fairfax, Virginia; was buried in West Sparta Oak Lawn Cemetery, West Sparta, Livingston County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

East Rochester/Dansville- Eric R. Melenbacker age 73, passed away unexpectedly at home Thursday afternoon April 16, 2020.

He was born in Wayland, NY on April 27, 1946, the son of the late Alfred Lewis and Mary Eileen (McMaster) Melenbacker. On February 28, 1969, he was married to the former Wendy Hartmann who survives.

Eric worked in broadcasting for over 56 years. He built several radio stations from scratch and eventually retired from WROC 8 TV as Chief Engineer.

He loved spending time with his family, doting over his cats, and admiring trains, which prompted his post-retirement job at the model train shop near his home.

Survived by his lovely wife Wendy of 51 years, daughter Stephanie of Avon, son Nathan (Shannon) of East Rochester, sister Celia Melenbacker (Jack Harris) of Erieville , NY; sister Ingrid Melenbacker (John DeLaura) of Springfield, VA , 2 half-sisters, 2 grandchildren Sean and Margaret and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Mother in-law Elsie Hartmann of West Sparta.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by the Hindle Funeral Home, Inc. 271 Main St. Dansville. Online remembrances may be left at HindleFuneralHome.com

Memorials can be sent to the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush or to Lollipop Farm.

Eric married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]