Robert W. Mellette obituary

#MiddleburyCT #Obituary

Founding member, The National Teacher in Space Foundation

Robert W. Mellette, a longtime resident of Middlebury, sadly passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at St Mary’s Hospital, surrounded by his family. He leaves his long-time companion, Barbara Mellette of Southbury; his identical twin brother Richard of Middlebury, and his partner, Sally Torrence of Thomaston; his brother Roland “Butch” Mellette and his wife, Susan, of Kittery Point, Maine; his sister, Melodie McVerry and her husband, Michael, of Middlebury; and his sister-in-law, Lynda Mellette of Bristol; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Cyril Mellette Jr. of Middlebury, Raymond T. Mellette of Woodbury, and Ronald Mellette of Waterbury.

Robert was born in Waterbury in 1940, the son of the late Beatrice (Colby) Mellette and Cyril W. Mellette Sr. A graduate of Woodbury High School, Robert attended college at Kent State University, graduating from the University of Connecticut. After graduating, Robert worked for a few years in electronics before finding his true passion in life as a science teacher in the New Haven School System. During his teaching career, Robert taught at Conte Arts Magnet School and Betsy Ross Magnet School and retired from Troup Magnet Academy of Science, all in New Haven, where he chaired the school science departments.

While on the Conte staff, Robert participated in the NASA Teacher in Space Program and was selected after a rigorous process from a pool of over 140 Connecticut educators and over 10,000 applicants nationwide, as one of the two Connecticut Teachers in Space, with the possibility of qualifying for a flight on the Challenger Space Shuttle, one of 113 Teachers selected nationally for this program. Although not selected for a spot on the Challenger, Robert was in attendance on that fateful January morning in 1986, witnessing the launch and tragic explosion of the space shuttle.

Robert was very proud of the fact that he had been involved in amateur rocketry for most of his life, with his Woodbury High School Yearbook describing him as the school’s “rocket expert.” His students at Conte referred to Mr. Mellette as the school’s “Our Own Space Man.” As a result of his involvement in the Teacher in Space Program, Robert and Richard were able to travel to Russia and view the Russian Space Shuttle. As a dedicated educator during his time in New Haven, Robert rewrote the science course work for grades five through eight and developed the marine science curriculum used city wide in the career education program.

A founding member of The National Teacher in Space Foundation, Robert was the recipient of a Milken Education Award, the nation’s preeminent teacher recognition program, as well as the U.S. Department of Education’s Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Award. Subsequent to his retirement, Robert joined his twin brother as vice-president of Harco Tool Company of Watertown. Additionally, the twins could always be found exploring and driving classic cars with the Model T Club and discovering new restaurants.

Calling hours for Robert will be held Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Brookside Memorial, The Albini Family Funeral Home & Crematory at 200 Benson Road in Middlebury. A prayer service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours. Burial with full military honors will be held privately this spring at Middlebury Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department, 65 Tucker Hill Road, Middlebury, CT 06762

For more information or send an online condolence, please visit www.brooksidememorial.com.