Melanie Knouse Cline

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Melanie Knouse Cline who was taken from us too soon on June 3, 2024, at the tender age of 33.  She brought immense joy and light into our lives with her kind heart, radiant smile and love of life. Though her time with us was brief, the depth of love and happiness she shared will forever remain in our hearts. 

Melanie was born on October 22, 1990 in Silver Spring, Maryland. She is survived by her beloved husband Greg Cline, her mother Kari Aldridge, stepfather Gerald Aldridge, brothers Alex (Su) Boyd, Erik (Angel) Boyd, and Kirk (Michele) Boyd, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many, many friends. She was preceded in death by her father Ernest Knouse. She also left behind her beloved 13-year-old dog Jet. 

Melanie was a wonderful aunt and she adored her nephews, nieces, and all children in her family. She enjoyed playing with children and especially enjoyed art projects with them. We have fond memories of Melanie making tie dye t-shirts for the kids. She loved teaching and showing them how to add their favorite colors to the shirts. She was always enthusiastic with every face time call with them and the children loved her jokes, hugs and cuddles.

Melanie loved cooking, and loved it even more after she met Greg, and together they happily experimented with new recipes and adventurous cuisines, using their homegrown herbs and vegetables. They shared their love of cooking and had many crab feasts at their home to the delight of their family and friends. An avid gardener, Melanie surrounded her home with perennial and annual flowers. Melanie and Greg loved Maryland’s beaches, and often would take long weekends to go to Ocean City.

Melanie looked forward to a long life with Greg. Family meant the world to her and she spent her time creating walls that displayed images of family and friends. She was artistic and created watercolor paintings and greeting cards. While a student at the University of Maryland, she was the captain of the Ultimate Frisbee intramural team and a frequent attendee at the “drop-in softball” group which was established in 1976 by her father Ernest Knouse.

A memorial service celebrating Melanie’s precious life will be held at 11 am on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at the University of Maryland’s Chapel with visitation from 10 to 11 AM. A reception with light refreshments will follow in the lobby of the Physical Sciences Complex after the memorial service. Parking is free behind the chapel and in the garage next to the Physical Sciences Complex. Friends and family are invited to remember a life that, albeit short, was truly a gift to us all. 

The University of Maryland was a strong thread in the story of Melanie’s life. A large group of close friends have organized a GoFundMe to raise funds to remember her on campus in the University of Maryland’s Listening Garden; dedicating a bench to her memory. The Listening Garden is a tranquil outdoor space that celebrates self-reflection, dialogue, and greater understanding through discussion and conversation. We hope you will join us in giving her a space where she can continue to help people connect now and into the future in a beautiful natural space of reflection. Link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-melanie-a-umd-listening-garden-bench