Sri Lanka: Gary Melder Obituary (31 Aug 1998)

31 August 1998

Gary Melder (1955-1998)

By Harold de Andrado

It was indeed sad to record the recent death, on July 15, 1998, of Gary Melder at the age of 43, succumbing to a massive heart attack.

Gary Melder was one of the fines team men in the Josephian cricket teams of the early nineteen seventies, a great all-rounder and a sound captain in seasons 1973 and 1974. I am now going back a quarter of a century in penning this tribute which is quite some time in local cricket history.

Nature endowed him with a good height, an average frame, a sharp cricketing brain and strong fingers and an extraordinary equable temperament an amiable outlook in life. He was a simple, unassuming person who never sought the limelight, never looked for profit or gain out of his duties; never hankered after position but simply carried out his assignments without fear of favour according to his own judgment. Be it a failure or virtue, he brushed trouble under the carpet and was not prepared to face trouble or unpleasantness, when it arose.

I am reliably informed that he was an overworked person both on and off the field and this no doubt contributed to the stress and tension that dealt him the final cruel blow. Gary could be a dour, determined and dominant figure and once he made up, his mind would not change it readily.

He dominated the Josephian teams from 1970 to 1974 as a great allrounder and was an automatic choice when international teams visited Sri Lanka. His planting career naturally upset his sporting career because some of his contemporaries and even lesser men went further gaining international and even Test recognition. He was the ideal man for any occasion. His work in the field, his amazing natural skills is told in the record books; as an outstanding left hand batsman, a wicket taking strike bowler and a brilliant close-in fielder. The public may have short memories but all his centuries, his harvest of wickets, are all there in black and white which is part of his great contribution to Josephian success of that era.

He gave back a great deal to the old school by undertaking the coaching, a thankless job at the best of times, but his unbeaten record in three years of coaching speaks volumes and has yet to be properly assessed. That it was extraordinary valuable no one can ever dispute. Gary was one who would never compromise truth for temporary gain, the true qualities of the great sportsman and a man of character that he was. His courage, his grit, his unswearing honesty and integrity, his courteous manner made him a truly great personality. He was never flamboyant and he always went about his life in a self effacing manner. That is why he was so much loved by his superiors, subordinates and companions alike.

He leaves his mother Beryl, wife Odile, daughter Andrea and son Dion who is already wielding the willow with success in junior cricket. From up there Gary will certainly monitor his progress. Progeny will read Gary's figures someday, and give him his place among the most accomplished all-rounders produced by St. Joseph's College. With his untimely death, Sri Lanka has lost a fine cricketing gentleman. Now we can only kiss the footsteps of his memory. To have known him and watched him perform was a rich experience indeed.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)