Jason David Mello

Jason David Mello, 35, of Lee Avenue, Newport, RI, formerly of Fall River, MA, died unexpectedly on Thursday, February 21, 2008. Born in Fall River, MA on October 25, 1972, he was the son of David Mello and Serafina Villella Mello.Jason Mello was born and raised in Fall River, Mass. He then graduated from Tiverton High School in 1990. Jason was a talented artist and had opportunities to attend college on scholarship for his abilities. Looking for more life experience first, after high school he moved to Newport and began work in the busy restaurant scene, working at Christies Restaurant for several years. In 1999 he joined the US Marine Corps, hoping to gain some new education and training for his future. During his time in the USMC, he traveled extensively, being assigned to Japan, Korea, Hawaii, and several stations within the US. He was trained to work on FA-18 fighter jets, as a safety technician, but was also a skilled marksman, and a decorated veteran. Jason served in Iraq for one tour at the beginning of the conflict, supporting the bomber missions. He then left the military in 2005 as a Sergeant and began to prepare to attend college. He took some classes at URI and worked at several different jobs. Jason was an accomplished artist, both in drawing and illustration and as a writer and photographer. His creative outlets led him to have several pieces of his art exhibited commercially, yet he never pursued art professionally. He was an avid reader, always furthering his own education, enjoyed the illustrations of comic books, and he loved spending time with his nieces and nephew. He is survived by parents David Mello and Serafina Villella Mello, both of Fall River, MA, his maternal grandparents Gennaro and Anna Villella of Fall River, MA, his brother Marc Mello and his wife Tara of Portsmouth, RI, his nieces Grace Diane and Abigail Mary Mello, and a nephew Jackson David Mello, all of Portsmouth, RI. He is also survived by his cousins Rachel McCarthy, Alex McCarthy, and Leila Mello, and several aunts and uncles. His funeral will be held on Friday, February 29, at 9:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial with military honors will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 28 from 2-4 and 7-9 in the Memorial Funeral Home.