Keith Thomas Melinson

West Point, 1991

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by John Strange on January 29, 2021:

Obituary -- Keith T. Melinson https://www.mayfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Keith-T--Melinson?obId=19763680 Keith Melinson dies at 52 after a lifetime of service to the United States. Keith Melinson of Glenside, Pennsylvania, a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, former US Army officer, husband, and father of three, died tragically in an automobile accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on January 21, 2021, a few weeks short of his 53d birthday. For more than 30 years, Melinson's career and life were defined by a passion for service and the high ideals of "Duty, Honor, Country" he first learned as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where his remains will be interred. An All-Catholic captain of the wrestling team at La Salle College High School, who spent his youth in the Somerton section of Northeast Philadelphia, he became well-known for his competitive spirit, his keen intellect, and a unique talent for deriving maximum comedic impact from very few words. That competitive spirit served him well as he sought to continue his wrestling career at West Point, where he trained to pursue his lifelong dream of serving his country. His service took its initial form upon graduation from West Point, when then-Lieutenant Melinson became an Artillery Small Unit Commander in the United States Army. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Melinson continued his patriotic focus through enrollment at the FBI Academy in Quantico, launching what would become a diverse and distinguished, decades-long career fighting terrorism, organized crime, counterfeiting, political corruption, violent crimes, health care fraud, and a wide array of other offenses. That career was never more meaningful than in the weeks and months following September 11, 2001, when Keith and his colleagues spent ceaseless days amidst the rubble of the former World Trade Center, leaving only every few days to shower and change clothes. He handled many of the Bureau's most significant cases and received the highest honors the bureau bestows. Melinson's longtime partner, retired FBI Special Agent Steve Madeiros described him as "the most capable and driven agent I have ever encountered -- he was relentless. He was a national treasure who started serving his country at age 18 and never stopped." The same passion for service pervaded Melinson's personal life. Keith and his wife, Vanessa, devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the interests and education of their three children -- Aidan (20), Luke (19), and Kaitlyn (15) -- and to the communities of Ancillae-Assumpta Academy, La Salle College High School, and Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy. In his spare time, Melinson enjoyed golfing at North Hills Country Club; spending time with his family on the beach in Sea Isle City, NJ; and watching the movie Cool Hand Luke for the 3000th time. He and his West Point classmates were also well-known for hosting one of the most entertaining annual tailgate events in Army/Navy football history, a tradition which was in keeping with Keith's love for Army football. In his final year at West Point, Melinson suited up and participated in the Army/Navy game on the sidelines as the uniformed physical embodiment of Army's famed "12th Man," representing the entire Corps of Cadets. In addition to his immediate family, Melinson is survived by a large extended family with whom he was especially close, including his parents, Judge James R. Melinson (Ret.) and Monica Melinson; his siblings, Gregg and Pamela Melinson and Megan and William McDonough; his parents-in-law, David Vroman and Vicki Scheer; his sister-in-law Erin Oller; and his nephews and nieces, JP Melinson, Austin Melinson, MollyKate McDonough, Liam McDonough, Mairead McDonough, and Abby Wright. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Luke the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 2316 Fairhill Avenue, Glenside, PA on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 11:00 am. Friends and family observing proper COVID protocol are invited to visit at St. Luke's between 9:00 and 11:00 that morning. Livestreaming of the service can be viewed at stlukerc.org. In lieu of flowers, family would welcome donations in Keith's memory to La Salle College High School, 8605 Cheltenham Avenue, Wyndmoor, PA 19038.

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