Melissa E. Mintz

February 24, 1947-February 1, 2020
Melissa Eden Whitcraft Mintz, beloved mother, wife, sibling, and friend, passed from this world on Saturday morning with her loving family at her side. Despite the tragedy of her unexpected and far too early death, Melissa leaves a legacy of joy and love and compassion. She was deeply devoted to her family: husband Steven Mintz and sons Ben (Jess) and Tom (Nikki Hurt). She will be missed beyond words.
The daughter of the late Edward and Jeannette (Bobby) Whitcraft of Oyster Bay, Long Island. Melissa is much loved and deeply mourned by her five siblings: Edward (Keats) Whitcraft; Jannie (Paul) Mills; Reg (Donna Adams) Whitcraft; Alexandra (Richard Arthur) Whitcraft; and Philip (Denise) Whitcraft.
She also will be dearly missed by her Mintz family, her mother-in-law Helen Mintz, sisters-in-law Jodi (John) Van Nest, and Nancy (Rob) Kautz, and much-loved nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
A graduate of New York University and Hunter College, where she earned her master’s in Theater, Melissa also loved literature and classical music. A poet and published author of children's books, she was working on her second novel at the time of her death.
A devoted supporter of social justice and progressive causes, she was happiest in Muskoka and Espedeco, canoeing with someone she loved or curled up reading by a fire.
A memorial service will take place on Sunday, February 9th at 2:30 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair. In lieu of flowers a donation to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Southern Poverty Law Center, or any organization committed to making good, necessary trouble would be welcome.