Melvin Alexander Esdaile Ii

Independent Wealth Advisor, and longtime resident of New Haven, CT, Melvin Alexander Esdaile, II passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday, May 1, 2022 at the age of 65 while in hospice care at St. Raphael's Hospital.
Mel ("Mac") was born in New Haven, CT on September 23, 1956 at Yale-New Haven Hospital to Charlotte Esdaile and Melvin A. Esdaile. As a young man, Mel attended Troop Middle School, and later, Hopkins Day School. In his younger years, Mel served as Page for the New Haven Board Alderman, alongside his father, who served as Alderman. During this time, Mel was also an active member of the Emerald Cadets Drum and Bugle Corp, where he performed as a drummer for audiences across the state. Mel would go on to attend Tufts University, where he pledged with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. During his time at Tufts, Mel cultivated his interest in international trade with a major in political science and international relations. His academic interests would lead him to Columbia University and the Graduate School of International Affairs, where he would further develop his focus on international banking and later, financial advisory services. Mel then went on to work for several brokerage firms and investment banks across the globe, including Mellon Bank, Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, and Drexel Burnham, focusing on Southeast Asian markets before finally electing to provide wealth management and financial advisory services through his own practice.
Mel was a devoted father, a loving husband, and a dutiful son and brother. He was an avid tennis player and sports fan, and a passionate intellectual, who deeply enjoyed traveling and learning from the stories and experiences of those around him. As a survivor of the attacks on September 11, 2001, Mel shared his tragic experiences openly in the hopes that his story would inspire others to act selflessly and courageously. Mel would devote much of his time to support the needs of local underserved communities through the Hopkins Alumni programs. He was a frequent visitor of the Yale-New Haven Bookstore where he would engage students, faculty and enthusiasts alike with his stories and ideas. His love of storytelling would inspire him to explore a hobby in creative writing and literature. He will be forever remembered for his kindness, his generosity, and his love of learning.
Melvin is survived by his two children, Lauren and James Esdaile; sister, Lydia Esdaile; brother, Michael A. Esdaile (Sherill); grandson, Theodore Turbert Esdaile; aunts, Ernestine Taylor and Frances Hall; uncle, Walter Esdaile (Sharyn); former wife, Stephanie Esdaile; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his mother, Charlotte Hamilton Esdaile, and his father, Melvin A. Esdaile, I.