Melvin N. Leventhal, author and community activist, died on Nov. 16 in Albuquerque, N.M. Born in Boston on Oct. 26, 1923, Melvin, fondly known as Mel to those around him, moved to Sharon, where he graduated class president in 1941. A decorated war veteran, he served overseas in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant in World War II and also served as a Master Sergeant in the Korean war.

After the war, he returned to Sharon with his wife, the late Marilyn (Schwartz) Leventhal, and their daughter, Ellin. After the birth of his son, Robert, Mel became heavily involved in the community development of both Boston and Sharon. A history buff, Mel was a tour guide at Boston by Foot for 15 years and wrote the scripts for tours of the waterfront, Old Scollay Square and the North End. At one point he served as the chairman to Sharon’s Democratic town committee in the 1960s and chairman of the board to the Sharon Historical Commission for over 10 years. Mel also served as the president of the Sharon Historical Society. He published the book, Sharon: A Destiny Predicted, A Path Followed, in 2010. Active in the Jewish community, Mel was an involved member in Temple Sinai and Temple Klal Yisrael (now Kol Tikzah), leading the Adult Education department in tours of Jewish Boston amongst other activities.

It was there at Temple Sinai where Mel and Marilyn met Milton and Thelma Weissberg. Thelma, originally from the Vineyard, invited the couple to vacation in the early 1960s to Gay Head, now Aquinnah. Mel fell in love with the landscape and its people and purchased a house on Old South Road. He could be found on Sundays picking up a blueberry pie at Humphrey’s or Alley’s General Store with a copy of the Gazette in hand. Though the family split their time between Aquinnah and Sharon, the spirit of the Vineyard was always around them. At their house off-Island, the coffee table held a permanent copy of Alfred Eisenstaedt’s Martha’s Vineyard.

To family and friends, Mel Leventhal will always be remembered as a vivacious spirit and family man. His penchant for the written word and loyalty to the Boston Red Sox became infectious to those around him. Mel’s love of the Vineyard was passed down to his children and grandchildren, who continue the tradition of summer nights and October falls in Aquinnah. To this day they can be found spending time on-Island with Adrianna Ignacio, Carla Cuch and Berta Welch, and their children.

He is survived by his sister, Leona Nester, his daughter, Ellin Hewes, his son Robert, grandchildren, Hilary, David, Cassie, Melissa and two great-grandchildren, Mari and Evelyn. A graveside service will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 11:45 a.m. at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 475 Washington street, Canton, MA 02021. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Melvin and Marilyn Leventhal Scholarship Fund at the Sharon Historical Society.