Richard Carl Mellen

Richard Carl Mellen of Lake Forest Visitation for Richard Carl Mellen, 70, will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Wenban Funeral Home, 320 E. Vine Ave., Lake Forest. The service will immediately follow. Born Nov. 7, 1937, in Toledo, Ohio, to Carl E. Mellen and Mildred (nee Wishard) Mellen, he suddenly passed away in St. Lucia on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, while doing what he loved best, sailing in the Caribbean. Richard's family moved to Waukegan in 1938, he went to Greenwood Grade School and Lake Forest Academy. He then attended Stanford University where he graduated in 1959 with a BA in Economics. While at Stanford he was a loyal member of Beta Theta PI Fraternity. After Stanford he served in the Army as a combat infantry second lieutenant. In 1960, he began working for USF&G Insurance Company in Nashville, Tenn., as an underwriter. In February, 1962, he joined his father who had established his own insurance agency, Carl E. Mellen & Company. In 1975, his father retired and Richard took over as president and owner of the agency. He was involved with YMCA's Camp Jorn in Wisconsin, helping children to attend who would not otherwise be able to attend the camp. The Mellen Horse Arena at the camp is named after him. Richard was dedicated to his home town of Waukegan where he was one of the founders of the Genesee Theatre. He was a life member of the Waukegan Yacht Club since 1978, where he kept his boat "Nightwind". Richard was also a member of Glen Flora Country Club, City Club, and Knollwood Club, where he won the Governors' Cup Golf Championship. His memberships in these clubs made him many lifelong friends. Richard was very active in the North Chicago Rotary Club, serving as President for two terms. He was a tenure member, joining in 1969 and he served on many committees. Richard enjoyed the game of golf and he loved to ski, fish, and collect cars. In 1995 he was able to have his dream boat "Pegasus" built which was decked in St. Lucia where he loved to spend much of his time sailing the beautiful islands. Richard's memory will long live with many whom he considered his "family". Among those are his fiance, Kimberly Layden, Julie Guerin, who was a lifelong friend of the Mellen family and devoted employee for over 50 years, and all of his loyal office staff who remain at Carl E. Mellen & Company Insurance. He is survived by his fiance Kimberly Layden, with whom he has spent the last 12 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mildred Mellen; and his Aunt, Mary (nee Wishard) Morris, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations would gladly be accepted by Camp Jorn YMCA, 2000 Western Ave., Waukegan, IL 60087. For information, 847-234-0022.