Melvin James Gauntz

Mel was in the slot on the first night I ever worked in a newsroom, early September 1980. I was 18, and he was undoubtedly skeptical of the bumbling, completely inexperienced urchin. I'll never forget the day I mistakenly took his fresh copy of the paper, and he rightly let me know how displeased he was in front of the veteran rimmers. In the year I worked at the SJMN I came to admire and respect Mel and I learned so much from him but until now I had no idea what a journalistic legend he...

tO CAROL AND rACHEL: AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. i'LL NEVER FORGET MY GOOD TIMES WITH ALL OF YOU SO LONG AGO--THE BEACH, SCRABBLE, POKER, YOUR KINDNESSES AND FRIENDSHIP.

Mel was a friend of mine and always had a joke to tell and always tried to make me laugh and he will be missed .
Live on in eternal happiness Mel

Heaven has a baseball team and Mel was scheduled to pitch

As a co-worker and fellow union activist I can truly say I am so fortunate that our career paths crossed.
MN Class of 1967-2001

I worked as a copy clerk in 1976 in the sports department when Mel was the sports slot. His sharp wit and raucous sense of humor made the work fun for me and everyone around him on the horseshoe shaped rim, even as we raced toward multiple nightly deadlines. I was a student at San Jose State at the time, working on the Spartan Daily as layout editor. I was eager to learn and often showed Mel pages I had designed. He was always happy to offer constructive criticism. Mel was a natural-born...

I have fond memories of after-work gatherings with Mel, Jim Jeffress and Jose Stell in the 1970s. Such a witty group. Mel was suffering from gout in those days, a problem I had known a few years earlier. We would share notes about the use of various old-wives' cures. His interests and knowledge covered an amazingly broad area. He will be missed.

Bob Weaver, former Mercury reporter and ACE.

It was wonderfull having Mel for an uncle. He was caring, humble, and appreciated the simple joys of life. I will miss our conversations, full of wit and funny stories. He was a unique and special person. My condolences to Mel's friends and family whom I hope will be consoled by many fond memories off the times they shared with Mel.

Mel was my husband David Anderson's good friend, colleague and fellow poker player. They spent many a late Friday night in the San Jose Mercury cafeteria, playing cards until the sun came up. Mel served as one of David's pall bearers 16 years ago. There's going to be one heck of a card game going on in the hereafter.

It was a pleasure knowing you.may you rest in peace.your neighbors at hometown.(1754)