Mrs. Whittier died on Dec. 18 after being struck by a vehicle on Middle Street in Portland.
Melanie Creamer
Melanie Creamer is a news assistant, who's worked at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram for nearly 16 years. She oversees various responsibilities from monitoring the news and business email addresses – to fetching old newspaper articles and photos from the archive.
She’s the face behind the popular business “On the Move” column, which appears in Tuesdays and Thursdays newspapers.
A compassionate and soft-spoken woman, Melanie is also the writer of the newspaper’s feature obituary. Many of her colleagues say she has one of the toughest jobs in the newsroom. She tells heart-breaking stories of love and loss. She listens as parents sob uncontrollably over the tragic death of their child. She writes touching stories about couples who have been married for 60 plus years, and then die within days or weeks from each other.
Melanie was the recipient of the Maine Press Association’s Unsung Hero Award in 2015.
A native of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, she graduated from Fitchburg State College in 2000 with a degree in professional writing. She lives in Scarborough with her fiancée and is a co-parent to two daughters.
Feature obituary: Robert Philbrick, 82, of Gorham, star athlete, longtime math teacher, coach and mentor
He also was dedicated to his wife of 65 years and his family of nine children.
Emmy-winning composer and former Camden resident John Duffy dies at age 89
Duffy wrote music for orchestras, television, theater and film, and co-founded the advocacy organization New Music USA.
Feature obituary: Jonathan Rolfe, 45, creative carpenter who loved building theater sets
Survivors say his artistic vision and selflessness couldn’t overcome some personal issues.
Feature obituary: Frederick Conti, 94, Maine Med volunteer, inspired hope, loved life
He also volunteered at a hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he and his wife wintered for 20 years.
Feature Obituary: Thomas Frederick, 56, construction company executive
He oversaw the development of dozens of landmark buildings in Maine.
Sanford church mourns its faith leader and storyteller of 22 years
Richard Leach, 61, who died Sunday morning as he prepared for weekend worship, overcame alcoholism and devoted his life to helping others with addictions.
Feature obituary: Charlene Strang, 95, social worker and travel agency owner
She shattered many stereotypes in her day.
Feature obituary: Renee Leavitt, administrative director of psychiatry at Maine Medical Center
Mrs. Leavitt, whose husband died in September, is remembered as a strong and independent woman who was passionate about her work.
Mom wants ‘them to have the magic of Christmas’
A stay-at-home mother of four applies to the toy fund for the first time after her husband changes jobs.