Organs of the 2008 graduate of Deering High went to save four lives.
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: Edward O’Brien, 86, maintenance supervisor at S.D. Warren
Mr. O’Brien was active in the Masons and held many positions within the service organization.
Feature obituary: Carl Robinson, 87, talented musician
Mr. Robinson was also a skilled carpenter who had a passion for life.
Feature obituary: Susan Ghoreyeb, 61, made her mark on midcoast theater scene
She directed and produced dozens of musicals and founded the Winter Drama Adventure in Damariscotta.
Feature obituary: Peter Sargent, 64, longtime owner of Kennebunkport bike shop
He embraced his passions for bicycles, community and family.
Feature obituary: Dr. Rudolf Winkelbauer, 88, well-known Brunswick obstetrician
He also had a passion for hunting and dogs.
Feature obituary: Michael Ham, 36, overcame trauma, reached out to help others
He lost his hearing in an attack, then later received a cochlear implant.
Feature obituary: Barbara Pollard, 82, held many posts in Gray, New Gloucester
She served on the Gray Cemetery Association for the past 40 years or so.
Feature obituary: Daniel Donovan, retired president and CEO of First Federal Savings
Mr. Donovan made a name for himself with his commitment to Bath.
Feature obituary: Raymond Webb Sr., 83, former selectman in Limington
Mr. Webb was dedicated to his family and his community.