Howard Charles Mel

1926 - 2023

Howard Charles Mel
January 14, 1926 - May 3, 2023
After a long and fulfilling life, Howard Charles Mel died peacefully at 97 in his home on May 3, surrounded by family, and listening to his favorite violin music. Howard was born on January 14, 1926 to Charles Mel and Florence Nachtrieb. A life-long Berkeley native, he attended Emerson Elementary, Willard Junior High, Berkeley High School, and UC Berkeley. At Cal, he was a member of Naval ROTC, and like many in his generation, was called to service in World War II prior to finishing his degree. He helped run the Naval Intelligence office in Bremen, Germany just as the war ended. Before returning to UC Berkeley, he spent a year abroad studying violin at the Geneva Conservatory of Music, pursuing one of his life-long passions. He returned to UC Berkeley to finish his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Chemistry in 1948.
Howard initially fulfilled his father's expectation and worked for two years in the family's Calo Pet Food business, but soon realized his path lay elsewhere. He returned to Cal to pursue a PhD in Chemistry with Wendell Latimer, followed by postdoctoral research with Ilya Prigogine in Brussels. He soon became a Professor at UC Berkeley, where he spent the rest of his professional career. His research focused on using biophysical principles to study the properties of different cell types in the blood and bone marrow, an endeavor with major therapeutic implications. Along with his devotion to research and teaching, he served the University in administrative capacities, including as Director of the Lawrence Hall of Science and a three-year stint as director of UC's Education Abroad Center in Bordeaux.
In June 1949, Howard married the love of his life, Nancy Helene Shenon, whom he had known since Latin class at Willard. His extraordinary 68 year partnership with Nancy was filled with family, friends, music, and world travel. Over the course of multiple sabbaticals in France beginning in the 1960's, they crisscrossed Europe with their 3 children in various generations of VW microbus. Together with Nancy, he navigated the trails of Bhutan and the "Stans" of Central Asia, and travelled the Trans-Siberian Railway from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg.
Howard had an enduring love of the outdoors, music, and theater. He climbed peaks on many Sierra Club trips (with map, compass and altimeter always near at hand), explored mountain ranges on multiple continents, and continued to hike throughout his life - even trekking to the base of Mt. Everest at age 80. He particularly loved spending time with family and friends outdoors in the beautiful light of the family's Lake Tahoe cabin. He was a talented violinist; in high school, Howard was concertmaster of the Young People's Symphony Orchestra and he continued to play chamber music his entire adult life. He played other instruments as well, and loved to accompany others - whether on his mandolin, recorder, ukulele, or xylophone. He was also known to surprise his guests with a tune on his Swiss Alphorn. Howard was a dedicated supporter of music, hosting and performing in house concerts with the Amphion Club for decades and serving on the Board of the Oakland Symphony. He and Nancy were regulars at Cal Performances, San Francisco Opera, Oakland Symphony, Berkeley Symphony, Berkeley Rep, Aurora Theater, and Pacific Mozart Ensemble performances. He kept up a full schedule of concerts and cultural events well into his tenth decade of life.
Howard's time in France helped stimulate a lifelong love of wine, including tracing his relative Louis Mel's role in importing rootstock to the Livermore Valley in the 1800's. He was a partner in several wineries, an enthusiastic participant in wine-tasting groups which met for decades, and he served on the UC Faculty Club's wine committee into his emeritus years. Gregarious and outgoing, Howard had a large circle of friends with whom he relished passionate discussions on topics ranging from prions to how to hold wine glasses correctly. He particularly enjoyed the Bohemian Grove where he played music under the stars with his campmates.
Howard is survived by his three children Amelie (John Stenzel) of Berkeley, Stephanie (Partho Ghosh) of San Diego, and Bartlett (Maria Carreira) of Manhattan Beach, and seven beloved grandchildren, Alex Stenzel, Kyra and Olivia Ghosh, and Gabriel, Francis, Margot, and Carmen Mel. Memorial contributions may be directed to any of his favorite musical or cultural organizations. A celebration of life gathering is being planned for the Fall.