Melançon Enterprises • a multidivision multinational since 1980

NATICK - John C. Melancon, 78, of Natick, died Tuesday, May 29, 2007, at MetroWest Medical Center, Leonard Morse campus.

An orphan, Mr. Melancon made his own living, starting from a young age in New Orleans. He never went to school, let alone graduated from high school or college. A lifelong student of life by reading and direct experience, his intelligence and depth and breadth of historical knowledge surpassed that of any university education.

Before his marriage, he traveled and worked in other parts of the world, including Latin America, England, Europe and Israel. With his wife and sons he traveled and camped through 47 of the 50 states.

He helped support his family as a bartender, assistant manager of the Weston Golf Club, owner of J&F Variety in downtown Natick, delivering pizza at Pizza Plus and working in receiving at Sears. Seriously physically compromised by emphysema in his last years, he kept a sharp eye on politics and world affairs, and the Boston Celtics and Red Sox.

Following a full life of work, solidarity, travel, love and learning, he considered the most meaningful part of his life - prior to his family - the time he spent in an intentional community in Georgia that supported the Southern civil rights movement as well as directly working with, and providing work for, the local poor white community.

A radical his entire life, he never accepted the inequality, racism or unfairness of society, and never quite lost his belief in our ability to change the world. Sometimes hidden, he had a deep and abiding love of humanity.

Besides his former wife, Evelyn, he leaves three sons, Jakob Alfred, Benjamin Maurice and Daniel Eugene; and two grandsons.

An informal celebration of his life will take place Sunday, June 3, starting at 11 a.m., at his home.

Instead of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to the Common Ground Collective (www.commongroundrelief.org) of New Orleans.