Hearthlist Digest #570 - Wednesday, February 21, 2001
 
Dan Melcon passing
  by "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
 

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Subject: Dan Melcon passing
From: "Craig Issod" <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 21:42:00 -0500
 
	It saddens me to announce that Dan Melcon, one of the leaders 
and true visionaries of our industry, passed away on 2/19/2001.
 
	Dan was stricken with a rare form of kidney cancer in 
November, 2000. He beat the odds by surviving for 1 1/4 years after 
the diagnosis, which does not surprise those of us who knew him.
 
	For those who do not know Dan personally, he was a central 
figure in the hearth industry for over 20 years. Most recently his 
work was as a senior writer for Hearth & Home magazine as well as an 
consultant for many of the manufacturers in our industry. I greatly 
treasure my brief relationship with Dan and his family.
 
	I first met Dan in 1995 at the Powderhounds Restaurant in 
Killington, Vermont. Previous to that date we had spoken by phone a 
few times and with the advent of the internet, were starting to email 
each other. As fellow hearth industry consultants (a rare breed!) we 
found that we had a lot in common. Despite the fact that this was our 
first meeting, I immediately felt that I had known Dan forever. This 
was the kind of person that he was. There was no facade - he was the 
real deal. A loving person who cared about his family, people in 
general and the industry.
 
	Since I enjoy skiing and traveling in New England, I would 
visit Dan regularly when I was in the area. Sometimes I was alone, 
other times with my wife. He always insisted that we stay at the 
"Melcon Hotel" which meant his house. Sometimes we were treated to 
homemade dinners that Annie and he cooked...true New England 
hospitality! We always had lots to talk about - family matters, 
politics, the industry and business in general.
 
	I heard about Dans condition on Nov 19, 1999, a date I 
remember since it was my 46th birthday. The news threw me into a funk 
which lasted quite a while - in fact, I'm not even sure if it's over 
yet.
 
	I was able to hang with Dan a few times in the past year. The 
last time I visited was during the end of November, 2000 when I found 
Dan in great spirits. Despite all that he had to deal with, he was 
running about the house doing his chores and laughing about the 
Presidential Election and recount. The "Melcon Hotel" seemed 
eternally busy - Dan crammed a LOT of living into the last year!
 
	Certainly there will be much more said about this man. What I 
can say from the depths of my heart is that Dan was a good and loving 
man and that I and many thousands of others will truly miss him.
 
Craig Issod
 
Note: Please do not try to contact the Melcon family as they have 
their hands full with family matters.