January 25, 1952 - February 8, 2024
John Tennent Melick, beloved husband, brother, father, and grandfather, passed away on February 8, 2024, after a five year battle with cancer. Born January 25, 1952 in Plainfield, NJ, his family moved to Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Nazareth High School in 1970. John went on to Penn State University where he met his future wife of 48 years, Pamela Leitzel, and the two were married on May 24, 1975. John graduated from Penn State with a degree in Mining Engineering and went on to enjoy a successful career as a licensed professional engineer in the mining industry with Island Creek Coal, Coplay Cement Company, Brooks Equipment Company, and lastly Maurer & Scott, Inc., of Coopersburg, PA, where he worked from 1990 until his retirement in 2021.
John was a longtime member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME) and the International Society of Explosives Engineers and held blaster’s licenses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Maryland. With Maurer & Scott, his roles included Senior Technical Representative, General Manager, and Vice President of Operations. During his career in the explosives industry, he established lifelong relationships with countless coworkers and customers, many of whom he considered to be his closest friends.
Upon retirement, John and Pam moved to Oro Valley, Arizona, where John continued to enjoy his pastimes and visits from the many good friends he made during his time in Pennsylvania.
In addition to his wife Pam, John is survived by his son Philip and daughter-in-law Kelly, of Oro Valley, AZ, son William and daughter-in-law Cathleen, of Rochester, NY, grandsons Shane, Cole, and Bennett, brothers James of Collegeville, PA, Andrew of Sao Miguel, Azores, sister Sara, of Missouri City, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his parents, William Dixon Melick and Elizabeth Hogeman Melick.