Ray T. Melillo

1929 - 2022

Ray T. Melillo, 92 of Niles, passed away on Friday May 6, 2022. He was born on November 9, 1929 in Niles the son of Phillip and Rose Bianco Melillo. Ray was a 1947 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and a 1956 graduate of Youngstown College with a Bachelors Degree in Civil and Structural Engineering. He began his career with the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation and also worked many years with the Cafaro Company helping design strip plazas and shopping malls throughout the country. He then owned and operated Ray Melillo PE Consulting Engineers from 1984 until his retirement in 1996. He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Niles where he served as an usher for several years at the 7:30AM Sunday Mass, the Niles Lions Club, a founding member of Niles Frontliners, and served on the Niles Park Board. He enjoyed golfing, swimming, wine making, working around the house, watching Westerns, and spending time with his family. He was an avid Ohio State Buckeye, YSU, Cleveland Browns, and Niles McKinley High School fan. Ray was a United States Air Force veteran of World War II. His wife Lois "Jean" Walden Melillo whom he married January 28, 1955 died November 19, 2017. He will be sadly missed by a son Ray Melillo and his wife Pam of Poland, two daughters, Vickie Janik and her husband Ed of Niles and Monica Melillo and her fiancée Bill Heasley of Painsville, a daughter-in-law Gerri Melillo of Niles, nine grandchildren, Michelle Spano and her husband Randy, Jillian Havaich and her husband Cody, Allison Johnson and her husband Chaz, Vincent Melillo and his wife Christi, Ross Janik, Celia Melillo, Marissa Melillo, Lauren Melillo, and Marco Melillo, nine great-grandchildren, Chaz, Enzo, Nico, Mia, Carmela, Capri, Michael, Harper, Hendrix, and a tenth great-grandchild, a little girl due in June. He was preceded in death by a son Michael Melillo, three brothers, Frank Melillo, William Melillo, Raymond Melillo who passed in early childhood, and a sister Angie Soda. Friends may call Thursday from 5PM to 7PM at The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles. There will be a 6:30PM prayer service at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM Friday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Niles preceded by a 10:30AM prayer service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Niles City Cemetery. Monetary donations can be made to Warren Family Mission 155 Tod Ave. NW Warren, OH 44485 Arrangements are being handled by The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles. Family and friends can visit www.josephrossifuneralhome.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Ray's family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ray T. Melillo, please visit our floral store.