Melvin Maurice Marable

Melvin Maurice Marable, beloved husband, father, and grandfather departed this life on Thursday, February 10 at his home in Lanham, Maryland. He was 73 years old.

A lifelong learner and devoted family man, Melvin was born on October 5, 1948, in Washington, DC to the late Gus and Lessie Marable. He grew up in Trinidad, a working-class neighborhood in the Northeast part of the city, and graduated from Eastern Senior High School. He went on to attend college at Coppin State in Baltimore, MD. In the late 1970s, he began a career in healthcare at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC and later worked at National Rehabilitation Hospital where he retired after 25 years of service.

In 1980, while working at Providence, Melvin met his kindred spirit in Brenda. They fell in love, became lifelong partners, and had two children, Keva and Kevin whom he considered his greatest successes; and four remarkable grandchildren, Ariana, Johan, Kingston, and Israel. As a lifelong entrepreneur, he was very proud of his travel agency, Vacation Coordinators Inc., which he owned and operated for more than 20 years. He was determined to make vacations accessible to families who never imagined they could travel and introduce them to the beauty of the Caribbean.

Melvin was a master, meticulous in his words and steadfast in his self-determination and positivity; a lover of music from the rich baritone of Bill Withers to the soulful jazz of Joe Sample to the celebrated sounds of Stevie Wonder; a brilliant man, always learning and eager to share knowledge and new experiences.

Melvin was an extraordinary spirit who touched the lives of people in unexpected ways from close family and friends to the friends of his children to whom he was a mentor and comrade; to colleagues he encouraged during his career and maintained relationships with even after his retirement in 2013; to the cooks at his favorite vegan restaurants. Melvin was a bright light, inspiring every person he touched and instilling the belief that they were as good as any great man or woman walking this earth.

Melvin’s sisters Betty Green, Evon Jackson, Patricia Marable, and Lillian Marable; and brother Harold Marable preceded him in death. His legacy lives on in his wife, Brenda; his children Keva Marable Blair (Dwayne) and Kevin Marable (Lynnette), and godson Randall Norton; grandchildren Ariana, Johan, Kingston, and Israel (and baby Marable on the way); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, extended family, and dear friends for whom he had an undying love.

The family will visit with friends on Saturday, February 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the University of Maryland Memorial Chapel, 7744 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742 the memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. For directions and parking, click here.