Genevieve Mellman, a brilliant, talented and wonderful friend, passed away April 30, 2013, in Denver. Rabbi Steven Foster was scheduled to officiate at the May 2 service at Temple Emanuel. Interment followed at Emanuel Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Genny was a beautiful, intelligent and engaging woman, the family said. She was in constant motion, and her curiosity about the world was always evident.
Mrs. Mellman was born Jan. 26, 1935, in Guatemala to Miguel and Frima Mendelsohn.
She came to Denver at age 10 to attend school and live with her relatives Tee and Hy Brown. Mrs. Mellman returned to Guatemala every summer until she graduated high school.
In 1952, she met and fell in love with Jerry Mellman, a lawyer and longtime sports editor for the IJN.
They were married in September, 1952, and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
As a young woman, Mrs. Mellman was president of the American Medical Center Auxiliary.
Read also the IJN eulogy, “Genevieve Mellman 1935-2013“
After raising her family, she started college, graduated from Metro State in 1983 and launched her career as an interpreter. She was fluent in Spanish.
Mrs. Mellman founded a business that provided interpreters to courts throughout Colorado.
During her career as an interpreter, she worked in the federal and Denver, Arapahoe, Jefferson and Adams County courts and never went anywhere without her cell phone and pager.
Mrs. Mellman is survived by her husband Gerald Mellman; children Barbara Mellman Davis (Lee Davis), Lisa Mellman (Toby Nygaard), Marti Friednash and David Mellman (Pip Hambidge); grandchildren Jon (Maureen) Japha), Yael Japha, Erik Nygaard, Peter Nygaard, Lauren Friednash, Annaliesa Friednash, Anna Mellman, Emma Mellman and Kate Mellman; and great-grandson Henry Isaac Japha.
Contributions may be made to the ADL Mountain States Region, JFS or the charity of choice.
Copyright © 2013 by the Intermountain Jewish News
