04/16/2026
A Celebration of Life in honor of David Melillo is planned for this Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 3:00PM in the First Congregational Church (26 Meeting House Lane, Madison).
David was the first ever Director for Madison Youth and Family Services, and served the Town in that capacity for 33 years; you can learn more about him, his legacy, and the Celebration of Life in his obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nhregister/name/david-melillo-obituary?id=61125965
If you are unable to attend in person, the family has also provided the below live streaming options for those unable to attend in person; a YouTube recording will then remain available for three months following the service.
YouTube (Recommended for audio quality): https://www.youtube.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fccmadison
Today's spotlight is written by our Director, Scott Cochran!
Rooted in Kindness: A Tribute to David Melillo
“Give sorrow words.” That’s a line from Shakespeare that I recall, not from any literature or theater class, but from a grief training I had as a graduate student many moons ago. It’s usually the thing that comes to mind when I experience the loss of someone close to me. It’s a reminder of the importance to express one’s emotions, especially in grief.
Those words resonate again as I grieve with others for the recent passing of our friend and colleague David Melillo. He was the first Director of Madison Youth Services (now Madison Youth and Family Services or MYFS) when it was established in 1983, and he served in that position for thirty-three years. He added another five years as the Director for Clinton Youth and Family Services.
David’s life, both personal and professional, is deserving of much public recognition and celebration. And yet, as is so often the case when we first face a loss, it is the shock and sadness that we encounter first. What he had envisioned as a time of retirement, filled with family and continued good works, was instead cut short by illness.
Grief carries with it a wide range of emotions. As a mental health professional—and simply as a human being—I understand that grief seeks expression; it will find its way into our awareness, whether we welcome it or not. I’m thankful for this opportunity to put words to David’s memory, as writing serves as both acknowledgement and a pathway for my own process.
David, the person I and many people here knew, was a friend, colleague and mentor. Very intelligent, well read and versed in current events as well as history. Engageable and knowledgeable in politics, history, sports and gardening. He especially loved his home gardens. A true Renaissance man in many ways, and yet funny, humble and never short on a laugh or joke. He loved to connect with people. His most precious and obvious gift was his ability to relate to almost anyone.
It is difficult to conceive of an exhaustive list that could include all of David’s contributions to the world. I’ll share what I know. He was a devoted husband to his wife Anita, father of three children and grandfather to three. He was beloved by his family and friends. For us who knew him and worked with him in Madison, he was the center of the MYFS universe. Building out programs and services in close collaboration with his staff and board, he involved many collaborators and community members along the way.
Thousands of youth and families have been positively impacted by what David created and developed with staff over time. Peer support programs, youth leadership, drug and alcohol prevention, counseling and social services, to name a few, were developed at MYFS. He was a great problem-solver and “systems thinker.” He was a constant advocate for needed town funding and public health policy related to youth. I imagine he would say something snarky about anything stated or written that he deemed as overly effusive about his life or career. He was always proud but never so pretentious. To that point I apologize, my friend. And too bad.
David was also known throughout the State of Connecticut as a long-time member of the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Youth Services Association, serving as the President of CYSA and later earning its prestigious Laura T. Brown award for lifetime achievement. Following the news of his passing, several Youth Services Directors reached out and shared stories of how they knew David, and how he provided support or guidance to them. They commonly recalled his helpful demeanor, his sense of humor and most of all, his humanity.
I was fortunate to meet David when I was a teenager during a Peer Advocate training, an experience that formed the first steps to my eventual career. From returning as an intern to later serving with him for eleven years—and eventually succeeding him as MYFS Director—I’ve remained committed to building on the strong foundation he created. Our close friendship continued in the years following his Madison retirement in 2015. We often swapped stories of our maturing families and changing times. I am forever grateful for his example of leadership, humility and kindness. He was a man who focused on the little things, and practiced patience. I’ll miss his jokes and occasional mismatched socks. I’ll miss his commentary on his beloved UCONN Huskies and NY Yankees. I will miss reminiscing about our shared experiences, as will the many others whose lives he touched.
Perhaps the best tribute to his life is the metaphor of his garden: it was a perfect reflection of his approach to life and community. He was one who took joy in caring for others, giving them what he felt they needed, and his satisfaction was watching others grow and blossom to their potential. I know my experience with him is only one of many stories that shared a few chapters with his. And his was a story of a wonderous life and enduring legacy of good works.
Want to learn more about MYFS or get involved? Check out our website or attend a future Board Meeting. Questions about this week’s Spotlight? Contact MYFS Director Scott Cochran by phone or email. Have ideas for future Spotlights? Email them to [email protected].
