From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Homes & Crematory
John “Jack” Mello, 73
May 08, 1948 – March 28, 2022
Jack Mello passed away at home on March 28, 2022, in the presence of his beloved wife and dear friend. He was 73 years old.
Jack was born in Providence on May 8, 1948, to parents of Irish and Portuguese heritage and grew up in the poor mill town of Esmond, Rhode Island. He attended LaSalle Academy where he played baseball and basketball, donning his favorite number of “32,” He then attended Rhode Island College for nine (9) years, working to pay for his education costs in an iron foundry, textile mill, pallet factory, Christmas tree factory and as a bartender. His commitment to hard work, attaining goals and “can do” attitude was evident throughout his life. Jack’s glass was always half full and he was undaunted by the challenges life threw in his way.
Jack studied to become a teacher (so he could have summers off to play ball). Disheartened by the students’ apathy he lasted 4 days before he quit and then bartended full time.
After seeing pictures of Florida’s beautiful blue ocean and listening to his aunt extoll the wonderful weather, he decided a foray to the Sunshine State was “in the cards” because he had always hated the cold. He set out after his beloved Red Sox lost in the series and cried all the way to North Carolina. He started his career in insurance in 1975. In his job interview, he was told he would have to make 100 cold calls a day and he would “maybe get 1 or 2 sales.” His response was “I can do that!” Nothing deterred him. Jack loved his work and his clients, always laboring to insure the best possible result for those he served. He expanded his expertise as a financial professional and counseled his clients to insure secure and profitable retirements. Jack’s compassion and empathy for his clients led to round the clock work but resulted in enormous satisfaction for someone who just wanted to “do the right thing.” His body of work led to his induction into the Insurance Hall of Fame.
Jack was a lifelong sports enthusiast, he was the “Google” of sport statistics before the internet. He loved to play softball and was inducted into the Florida Half Century Softball Hall of Fame. Jack played and sponsored many teams, meeting and befriending the players. He not only financed their desire to play the game they loved but he became their trusted financial advisor and friend for life. Jack was a team player on the field with his teammates and with his clients. There was no “I” in team with Jack. In life and in sports Jack believed what the great Bambino said: “Never allow the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”
To know Jack was to know when he entered a room he commanded it – with a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his lips, a handshake, and a story to tell. He was magnanimous, generous, and charitable all in a humble manner. He was bigger than life but simply cared about others. When you met him, you were his friend.
Jack was still a bachelor in his fifties until he found and rekindled his romance with Diane. They had dated 20 years earlier. Jack and Diane enjoyed a loving and special relationship. She was the love of his life and “the best wife ever,” according to Jack and she was at his side during the entire time they were together. They were devoted to each other.
Jack is survived by his wife, Diane, son Michael (wife Caroline), siblings, Joe (wife Karen), Jim, Steve and Diane, and his niece, Jennifer, and nephews, Eric (wife Michelle) and Brian and his beloved cat, Beau.
A gathering of friends and family will be held 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, 1655 27th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960. A Celebration of Jack’s life will be held 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, 2022 at The Antilles Clubhouse, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Cat Hospital Angel Fund, 1820 58th Ave., Suite 108, Vero Beach, FL 32966, VNA & Hospice Foundation, 1100 35th Lane, Vero Beach, Fl 32960, Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy, 1028 29th Place, Vero Beach, Fl 32960 or HALO Rescue No-Kill Rescue Shelter, 710 Jackson St., Sebastian, Fl 32958.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Homes & Crematory
Eldora Anita “Dody” Upton, 80, Vero Beach
March 06, 1942 – March 24, 2022
Eldora Anita “Dody” Upton, age 80, passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2022.
She was born March 6, 1942, in Westfield, Pennsylvania and moved to Vero Beach in 1970, coming from her birthplace.
Dody had attended Mansfield State College, Mansfield, PA.
Mrs. Upton retired after 35 years as a foliage buyer with The Kroger Co., Vero Beach.
She was a member of King’s Baptist Church, Vero Beach.
Dody is survived by her husband of 41 years, Russell “Bill” Upton; sons, Kimberlee Short and Kevin Short both of Tallahassee, Florida; and daughter, Anita Short Grover of Venice, Florida and Lebanon, Maine; and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Vilma C. Jacob, 83, Vero Beach
May 21, 1938 – March 29, 2022
Mrs. Vilma C. Jacob, 83, of Vero Beach, Florida passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at her home.
Vilma was born in Naples, Italy to the late Mario Camardella and Eleanor Gargiulo. It was during WW II when she was five years old that her mother (Eleanor) perished from a bombing attack. A few years later her uncle and aunt Dr. Arturo Brindisi and Dorothy Gargiulo-Brindisi brought her to New Rochelle, New York where she spent her youth.
After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Vermont where she graduated with a degree in nursing. Not long into her nursing career, Vilma was swept off her feet by Peter Jacob. Soon after they married and she retired from nursing, they began raising their family. When the children got older Vilma became the owner of BJ’s Ice Cream Parlor where she put her children to work and kept them active. Eventually the children became adults and began their own lives and in 2005 Vilma and Peter moved to Vero Beach from South Burlington, Vermont to retire.
Vilma continued to be active while volunteering at their church, Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach and eagerly looked forward to the many meetings and matches of the Grove Isle Bridge Club.
Survivors include her husband of 63 years, Peter L. Jacob, and their children Arthur Jacob (Africa Johnson-Jacob) of Deerfield Beach, Thomas Jacob (Donna Conte-Jacob) of Peabody, Massachusetts, Terry Jacob of Chantilly, Virginia, Kathy Jacob-Millikin (Bob Millikin) of Huntersville, North Carolina, and Peter A. Jacob (Anne Jacob) of Salt Lake City, Utah, ten grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents Mario Camardella and Eleanor Gargiulo-Camardella and her “adoptive” parents Dr. Arturo and Dorothy Gargiulo-Brindisi.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
The family will receive friends 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Monday, April 4, 2022 at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach. A funeral mass celebrating her life will follow at 2:00 PM at Holy Cross Catholic Church and a celebration of life to follow at 3:30 PM at the Grove Isle main club house.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of VILMA C. JACOB, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Morris Joseph Marsh, 94, Vero Beach
March 10, 1928 – March 18, 2022
Morris Joseph Marsh, 94, of Vero Beach, passed away, March 18, 2022.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island on March 10, 1928, he was a son of the late Morris and Alice Dumont Press.
Morris was a United States Army Korean War veteran; and a member of St. Helen Catholic Church.
He enjoyed gardening and playing cards.
In addition to his parents, Morris was preceded in death by his first wife, Ann C. Marsh.
He is survived by his wife Mildred Vaclavik Marsh; sons, Robert & Michael; daughters, Roseanne & Margaret; ten grandchildren and dozens of great-grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Morris’ Life held at Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach on Wednesday, May 25th at 12pm.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of MORRIS JOSEPH MARSH, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Judith Weiner Levine, 79, Vero Beach
July 18, 1942 – March 23, 2022
Judith Weiner Levine, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach, FL at age 79. Born on July 18, 1942 in Pittsburgh, PA to Ruth Grafman Weiner and Sidney Weiner. Judy was the widow of Warren Levine of Pittsburgh, PA, but residing in Vero Beach, FL since 2003; mother to David Stanley Ruben (Pittsburgh, PA), B. Harrison Levine (Boulder, CO), Carrie Levine Schiff and husband Kevin Schiff (Boulder, CO), Marnie Susan Levine (Denver, CO), and Jaime Paige Levine (New York, NY); grandmother of Sidney Schiff, Aaron Ruben, Samuel Schiff, and Jake Ruben; and beloved companion of Scout.
A graduate of Penn Hall School for Girls in Chambersburg, PA, Judy matriculated at Penn State University in State College, PA and Chatham College (now Chatham University) in Pittsburgh, PA before marrying Warren Levine in 1962. After the couple retired to Vero Beach, Florida, Judy made her bat mitzvah, was active in the Temple Beth Shalom Sisterhood, serving for a time as president, and volunteered at Indian River Hospital in the Stork Club, providing support to the Women’s Health Care staff by welcoming new mothers, cuddling, feeding, diapering, and providing state mandated hearing screenings to newborns.
A memorial is unplanned at this time, though you may reach out to the family for more information. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA Hospice House of Vero Beach (1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960; vnatc.org) or Temple Beth Shalom of Vero Beach (365 43rd Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32968; tbsvero.org)
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Dennis Joseph Heins, 93, Barefoot Bay
November 07, 1928 – March 20, 2022
Mr. Dennis Joseph Heins, 93, of Barefoot Bay, Florida passed away peacefully while in the company of his loving family on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Sebastian River Medical Center in Sebastian, Florida.
Joseph was born in The Bronx, New York to the late Nicholas William Heins and Sarah Frances (nee Farrington) Heins. He and his beloved wife Katherine Helen Haggerty Heins became winter residents of Barefoot Bay 32 years ago while retaining their home in Madison, Connecticut.
A huge sports fan and very talented athlete, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Braves baseball team upon graduation from high school. Upon completion of his first year in the Braves farm system he was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War.
After completing his military obligation and receiving an honorable discharge, Joseph began working as a fire fighter for the New Haven, Connecticut fire department. He served the city for 30 years rising to the rank of Battalion Chief. Joseph had a second career, he also worked as a Master Mechanic at Sears & Roebuck, again retiring after 30 years of service.
Joseph was of the Catholic faith and a communicant of St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Sebastian. He was a member of the City Point Yacht Club in New Haven, an avid fisherman and golfer. But it was his family that was most important. He owned a boat called the “Two Bagger” where he and his children and grandchildren spent many wonderful hours together.
Survivors include his wife Katherine Helen Heins of Barefoot Bay, sons Gary (Carol) Heins of Wallingford, Connecticut, Thomas (Shelley) Heins of Orange, Connecticut, Ronald Heins of Northford, Connecticut, Robert Heins of Palm Beach Gardens and Anthony (Kim) Tomasi of Sebastian, thirteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Irene Heins and a daughter-in-law Jacqueline Heins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds RD, Irondale, AL 35210.
Mass for Joseph will be celebrated at a later date at St. Sebastian Catholic Church. His interment will take place at St. Lawrence Cemetery in West Haven, Connecticut.
Arrangements are entrusted to Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, Florida 32958.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of JOSEPH HEINS, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
John Joseph Schlitt, Jr., 89, Vero Beach
November 07, 1932 – March 23, 2022
John Joseph Schlitt, Jr, 89 of Vero Beach passed away on March 23, 2022. Please check for a more detailed obituary soon.
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