He was a prisoner of war in Germany and came home to run a store in Massachusetts and eventually move to Old Orchard Beach.
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: Debra Treadwell, 54, popular math teacher at King Middle School, inspired students
She was diagnosed with MS at age 30 and faced life head on.
Feature obituary: Robert Harris, 82, dedicated his life to service of Portland-area bereaved
The father of four was a longtime funeral attendant at Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Homes.
Feature obituary: Anthony J. Napolitano, 79, founder of iconic Maria’s Ristorante in Portland
The father of three provided authentic Italian cuisine to the area starting in 1960.
Feature obituary: Paul Kelley, 65, ‘gruff’ and versatile retired Portland police detective
He investigated a wide range of crimes during 27 years with the department.
Feature obituary: Robert Ridgewell, 74, a salty fisherman until his final few days
He captained many boats out of Portland Harbor.
Feature obituary: Thomas Sferes, 72, innovative educator devoted to students
The winner of a Milken Educator Award had a passion for foreign languages and also loved architecture and traveling.
Feature obituary: Richard Brown, managed municipalities in Mass., N.H., Maine
Richard Brown retired as York County manager in 2012.
Feature obituary: Peggy Bisco, 56, Bar Mills postmaster, known for handicrafts
She didn’t let her illness get her down and lived life to the fullest, her daughter says.
Feature obituary: Fred Durst, 86, dedicated volunteer at Center for Grieving Children
He was also an avid sailor and longtime member of the Foreside Community Church in Falmouth.