George Mellott, PhD, 1932-2025; Was Longtime Music Instructor, Musician and SIUE Professor Emeritus of Music
George Mellott, PhD, who lived in Colorado, died Thursday, April 10. He was 92.
Mellott began working in the Department of Music at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Sept. 6, 1964. He retired on Aug. 31, 1994. He was a professor emeritus in Music until his death.
Attesting to his excellence and expertise both as a musician and instructor is Mellott’s longtime colleague and artist Stephen Brown, SIUE professor emeritus in Music.
“At the time I had no idea how exceptional a performer George was,” said Brown, who worked with Mellott for several decades. “He was the only clarinet professor I knew, and I just sort of thought of him as industry standard. Not the case. George was equally at home on clarinet and saxophone, equally at home in jazz and classical music, reading and improvising, and always with a prodigious technique and innate musicality.”
Mellott and Brown formed a bond after their years of working and playing together.
“We got to know each other well when we were jointly tapped to lead a student jazz combo, which led to the formation of an actual jazz group inventively called the Mellott-Brown Combo,” continued Brown. “We did a little gigging, continued to play with students, and were fortunate to work with two talented bass players – David Engelke and Doug Meyer (SIUE music reference assistant).”
Brown also noted that several of Mellott’s students went on to professional careers in playing and teaching music.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26 at the Ascension Episcopal Church in Pueblo, Colo. Donations in Mellott’s honor may be given to any of the following: Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center in Walsenburg, Colo.; the Salvation Army, Shriners Children’s Hospital, the ASPCA, Wounded Warriors, Ascension Episcopal Church in Pueblo, or the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Vail, Colo.
A complete obituary is listed on the website of Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors.
Arrangements are being handled by Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors, Inc.
