by Carolyn James

Mel Carr, longtime resident of Amityville and local travel agent believed that the best way to serve his clients was to travel himself.

"He didn’t sell out of a brochure," said his longtime companion Paul Oele. "Traveling was part of his life and he loved it, but it also made him a good travel agent."

Mr. Carr died in Amsterdam the Netherlands on May 24, 2004 where he was attending a family event with Oele. He was 70 years old and died of kidney failure, the result of cancer, which he had battled for five years.

Mr. Carr was born in Brooklyn, New York and served stateside in the U.S. Army. Following an honorable discharge, he moved to Vancouver, Canada, and later to Washington D.C. He moved to Israel in 1961 and lived there for four years teaching English at a Kibbutz and working for the Israeli government’s office of tourism.

In 1965, he moved to Sweden and worked for El Al airlines and came back to New York in the fall of 1968 where he met Oele in January, 1969. He continued to work for the Israeli government, and as a tour operator for Histradut tours and later for Finn Air.

In July of 1974, Mr. Carr opened a travel agency, first at the Merrineck Shopping Center in Copiague and then on Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst next to the site of what was then the Narragansett Inn. In May, 2002, the agency merged with Jimmy’s Travel in Lindenhurst.

"He worked right until we left for Holland, continuing to do tours and cruises for his best clients," said Oele.

Rabbi Leo Spielman, who conducted Mr. Carr’s funeral service and was a friend of his for more than 30 years, described him as a gentleman in every sense of the word.

"He was kind, helpful, respectful and compassionate," said Rabbi Spielman. "He was also an activist in a positive sense, for us in every group with which he was affiliated."

Mr. Carr’s love of travel was closely linked to his love of different cultures and places, said Oele. He traveled worldwide with the exception of New Zealand and Australia, and was particularly impressed with Africa and Israel. He also traveled to China, the Phillipines and Japan and all over Europe.

Professionally, Carr served as president of the Long Island Association of Travel Agents for six years and as president of the Bon Vivant, a fraternal organization of travel agents.

While living in Amityville, Mr. Carr was a member of the Amityville Activities Council, a group that coordinated all activities in that Village. He was also president of the Copiague Chamber of Commerce.

After leaving Amityville in 1993, Mr. Carr and Mr. Oele moved, first to Bay Shore where Mr. Carr served on the homeowners boards at Mystic Woods, and then the Admiralty. As Mr. Carr’s health declined, they moved to Country Pointe Woods in Manorville in January, 2002. Mr. Carr served as president of the homeowner’s association.

"He was a very kind and caring person and he was concerned that I would be able to stay in our home if he were gone," said Oele. "It was the first home that we had that was brand new, and he took great pleasure in picking everything out to make it beautiful."

Dale Tanner, who knew Mr. Carr for 8 years, described him as a gentle, gentleman. "He was a very considerate and compassionate person and when I met him through the homeowners association, I admired the way he was always encouraging people to be considerate of each other," said Tanner.

In addition to Mr. Oele, Mr. Carr is survived by his nieces and nephews: Dr. Jeff Carr of Somers, N.Y.; Fran Keizer of California; Arlen Carr of Bayside, N.Y.; Meryl Goldmen of Alexandra, New Hampshire; Bruce Heller of Northport and Steve Heller of Syracuse, and their children. He was predeceased by his brothers Joseph, Edward and Leonard and by his sister Sylvia.

Funeral services were conducted at I.J. Morris in Dix Hills, May 30, 2004, with Rabbi Leo Spielman officiating. Burial was in Beth Moses Cemetery, East Farmingdale.

Donations in Mr. Carr’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Paul Oele, 36 Brookville Way, Manorville, NY 11949-2969.