Dr. Kathleen M. Melander

Dr. Kathleen M. (Roan) Melander, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Dennis G. Melander for 59 years, and a daughter of the late John A. and Catherine J. (Lawless) Roan. Kathleen was the loving mother of Leslie M. Melander and her husband, Stuart A. Mark, Deneen J. Melander and her husband, David R. Mark, and Roxanne M. Melander; devoted grandmother of Nicholas Graham, Daniel Mark, Arthur Bradford, Noelle Graham, Kelley Mark, and Ryan Mark; and caring sister of John Roan. Dr. Kathleen Melander was the sister of the late, Mary Rocchio and Rosemary Roan. Presidential award-winning science teacher and Director of Elementary Science for the Warwick school system, Dr. Kathleen Melander, was a fierce champion of science education throughout her fifty year career. As Director, she raised the newly formed science department to a higher level of excellence; implementing innovative curriculum and modernizing testing methods. As a teacher, she inspired young minds to embrace the marvels and mysteries of the universe from sub-atomic particle theory to astrophysics. She continued to nurture the science department with numerous scholarships, grants, and awards through her affiliations with NASA, the US Air Force, Brown University and various community and corporate organizations. During her tenure for Warwick, she was a founder of RIASEC (Rhode Island Aviation and Space Education Counsel) which sponsored annual activities to spark the imaginations of the next generation of space scientists. In addition to all her work in science education, one of the projects powered by her passion to serve humankind is cancer research. The research was prompted by an excerpt from the old testament regarding the curative properties of the juice of unripened figs. This project began when she was a student at McGill University in Canada under the direction of Dr. Ulman from Israel. After retirement, she revived the research with Dr. Ulman's daughter and continued to refine a viable substance for cancer treatment. Her funeral will be held Saturday, March 11, 2017, at 9 am from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave., Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am in St. Kevin Church, Sandy Ln. Interment will be in the St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visitation Friday, 6-8 pm. In Lieu of flowers, contribution to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 USA) or The National Humane Education Society (3731 Berryville Pike, Charles Town, WV 25414) or Roger Williams Park Zoo (1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907), will be appreciated. Information and condolences, visit TheQuinnFuneralHome.com