William "Bill" C Mellekas

William Charles Theodore Mellekas, fondly known as Bill, passed away with love and peace in his heart, and with family by his side on Sunday, February 2, 2025. Bill was born on July 26, 1955 in Newport, RI to parents Anna (Pappastratis) and Charlie Mellekas. He joined older sisters Phyllis and Rita, and grew up surrounded by his loving extended Greek family and friends in Middletown, RI. 

As a youngster, Bill’s trademark blonde curls and blue eyes were well known throughout his close knit neighborhood. He attended Middletown High School, where he was kind hearted and quite reserved. Bill went on to attend the University of Rhode Island where he studied business and changed his major to education and hit his stride. 

With the support of his family, Bill left Rhode Island in 1982 and moved to New Hampshire to pursue his dream of being an educator. He began teaching at Carolina Crapo School in Sugar Hill and moved to Franconia, where he fulfilled his life purpose for over three decades as a second and third grade teacher at the Lafayette Regional School. During his tenure, he impacted countless students, families, colleagues and peers. Bill was known as the “fun teacher” and beloved by all. His storytelling, clever activities and his empowering teaching style kept students engaged and eager to attend school. 

At the core of Bill’s values were his commitment to community service and civic engagement. Bill’s heartfelt work as an educator was just one of the ways he connected with the community. He also served the community as Justice of the Peace and Bail Commissioner in the Littleton area. You could say he taught most of the community, and married the rest of them - or set their bail! He was also well known at Polly’s Pancake House as the host extraordinaire and was sometimes confused as the owner! He always had a smile, joke or story for all who walked through the door. 

Bill loved the theater and had many memorable roles with the Upstage Players, continuing on to serve as a volunteer at the Weathervane Theatre in Whitefield. He volunteered for Meals on Wheels, All Saints Episcopal Church food pantry, and the Franconia food pantry. He was also an active participant in the Sugar Hill Community Church. He served as a library trustee at the Abbie Greenleaf library in Franconia and he emceed many old home day parades in Franconia - and was honored to be the grand marshall this past summer. 

Bill had an incredible passion for traveling and meeting new people. Beginning with a trip to Russia with colleagues in 1995 as part of a teacher exchange: Project Harmony, Bill shared his smile and gregarious nature through travels around the world. Some of his favorite excursions were to Africa, the Azores, Belize, India, Austria, Tuscany, and Greece, aka the Motherland. Bill made friends (and sometimes broke hearts) everywhere he went. 

Bill’s amazing heart was open to and encompassed his entire community. He enjoyed many intergenerational friendships - connecting with people in all walks of their lives. He always had a kind word to share and left lasting impressions on everyone he came in contact with, especially his former students, as witnessed in the outpouring of messages from so many during his final days.

His legacy of love and light will be carried on through his sisters, Phyllis Mellekas and Rita Rosenberg Barber, and brother-in-law, Don Barber, many nieces, nephews, cousins, chosen family and community of loved ones. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Bill’s chosen local charities in his name: Littleton Historical Museum, Abbie Greenleaf Library, Bancroft House, Copper Cannon Camp or Second Chance Cat Shelter.

All are invited to a celebration of Bill’s amazing life, which will be held at the Toad Hill Farm in Franconia, NH, on what would have been his 70th birthday: July 26, 2025.