Melvin B. Kirsner

Pell Mel was a special friend I met as a teen at Windinsea where he surfed, and later as friends of the Russells; I was 6 years his younger, but he was always friendly to me; I was there the day his big plank surboard broke at the beach; he was so upset he cried and we all felt bad for him losing that board. It was fun to hang around Windinsea beach and watch and visit with surfers like Pell Mel; later in 1963 I was training as a teller at old First Natl Bank and up walked a man in a...

Melvin was such a dear friend of my husband Chuck and myself. We loved traveling with him and found his boundless interest in anything and everything fascinating and fun. He was a faithful friend. We will miss "Our Melsie" more than words can say.

Mel was definitely one of a kind and we will miss his smiling face. He put up an incredible fight which truly shows how much he wanted to stay around for Judy. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your familiy and we send our deepest condolences.

I met Mel early on in my years at the Beach. Mel was a joy at OTL, and a total treat when sharing a beach haunt. He was always ready with the never before heard joke. I had the great pleasure of sharing breakfast with Mr. Mal and the lovely Lila the Orangutan at the Singapore Zoo on a much remembered trip to Borneo, and Rangoon.
-Kron

With our deepest sympathy. Kent (CHP) and Alicia Thompson

I met Mel in the 60’s through my Dad who was a purchasing agent for NASSCO and one of Mel’s first big customers when he started Pell Mell Supply. He took me and my Dad on a tour of his warehouse one day. Mel always had a big smile on his face and just seemed to love life. Just last year I met him again at a birthday party for a mutual acquaintance. He still remembered me and we talked about the “old days”. I am grateful I got to meet him again. My condolences to his family. He will...

Mel's parents, Rose and Nate were dear, dear friends of my parents, Addie and Hy Wishnek.
I still have the wedding gift they gave me when I married in 1963.
Nate drove a Chrysler "C" and he was just the nicest man.
Rose was at St. Paul's Villa in 1986 when my mother moved there...and it was such a comfort to me knowing my mother knew at least one person there.
I contacted Mel when Rose died, and we had the longest chat about our parents...and what it was like to grow up in SD...

Mel was one of a kind and one my dearest friends.
Sorry that he's not with us anymore.
He had a great life and touch thousands of people with wit and laughs.

Rick Schloss