John Allyn Melloh, SM
Mar. 20, 1943 — Dec. 31, 2014
Fr. John Allyn Melloh, SM, died on December 31, 2014, in Florida while visiting his family. John was 71 with 53 years of religious profession as a member of the Society of Mary (Marianists). He was a theologian and university professor who spent most of his ministry years at the University of Notre Dame.
Born on March 20, 1943, in Jamaica, New York, he was the oldest of three sons in the family of William Lester and Gertrude (Gehring) Melloh. He attended St. Aidan School and Chaminade High School on Long Island, New York, where he first encountered members of the Society of Mary. He entered the novitiate at Marcy, New York, in 1960, and professed his first vows there on August 22, 1961. He professed perpetual vows in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 20, 1966.
A gifted scholar, Fr. John earned a bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) from the University of Dayton in 1965, with majors in mathematics and philosophy. He taught math, French and Latin at Marianist Preparatory (postulate) in Beacon, New York, from 1965 through 1967. He professed perpetual vows in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 20, 1966.
Fr. John earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton in 1967, and began teaching at Chaminade High School in Hollywood, Florida, that fall.
The 1970s were a time of achievement and change in Fr. John’s life. In 1970, he began seminary studies at the Marianist Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and was ordained in Hollywood, Florida, on August 25, 1973. He earned a master’s degree in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1972, and a doctorate in historical theology from Saint Louis University in 1974. During this time, he also earned a commercial airline pilot certificate and became a certified flight instructor.
Early in his career as a university professor, Fr. John taught at the University of Dayton; St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas; Biscayne College in Miami, Florida; and St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. In 1977, he began teaching at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. On the faculty of the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, he served as director of the then Center for Pastoral Liturgy from 1979-1984. Later, he founded the Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics. He retired in 2008.
He became a popular teacher of pastoral, liturgical and historical theology. He was co-editor of Praise God in Song: Ecumenical Daily Prayer, Foundations in Ritual Studies and also Praise God in Song: Night Prayer.
Fr. John was past president of the Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics (CATH), a charter member of Societas Homiletica and a member of the North American Academy of Liturgists. He lectured in the United States, Canada, England and Australia.
He served on the faculty of the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, where he served as director of the then Center for Pastoral Liturgy from 1979-1984. Later, he founded the Marten Program in Homiletics and Liturgics. He retired in 2008.
“A few years back, John came in and gave the novices a week-long workshop on liturgy. He was spectacular,” said Bro. Mike O’Grady, who was assistant director of novices at the time. “He started each session with a poem and then led the novices through an appreciation of the liturgy. He encouraged questions and treated all interactions with marvelous respect. I am sure those novices will remember him. It was a grace to have him with us.”
A lover of music, Fr. John served often as a choir director or cantor. He played the organ, oboe, guitar, piano and autoharp. He also will be remembered for his cooking skills.
Fr. John celebrated his 50th jubilee with his fellow Marianists in June 2011 in Douglaston, New York.
“Fr. John was a clever teacher and a wise adviser. His memory would have to be measured in megabytes per second,” said Fr. Gerald Chinchar. “We will remember him for his welcoming presence, hearty laugh and playful spirit.”
Tribute prepared by the Society of Mary, United States Province.