Melvyn Richard Ware

I first met Mel in the beginning of September of 1997 when I joined the Millshop team at Universal Studios. He had already been working in the shop for a few years when I started. We talked as coworkers do about each others pets, lives, and loved ones. One day I told him that my, soon to be, 4 year old Son LOVED Jurassic Park. Universal Studios had a Jurassic Park exhibit that was only going to be open for another week and a half. The next day he had 2 Comp passes for me to take my Son that weekend to see the exhibit. Then I realized how much of a "giving man" Mel Ware was! We worked together the next 2 years fabricating all kinds of woodwork for the park. One of the projects was the Universal Store at the Airport. It was a colossal job, probably the biggest project the shop took on! Mel and myself would get to the shop super early in the morning and grab a vehicle and head over to the store at the airport. We started the installation of every piece of cabinetry that the shop made. I really got to know Mel during those 2 years in the shop. Not only was he a giving person, but he loved so many other things. He loved movies, photography, beautiful sound, guns, knives, motorcycles, strong coffee, good food, billiards, his family, laughing, and especially woodworking! I left the Millshop after the 2 years to be a coordinator for the maintenance department. However, Mel always stoped by my desk with questions on how something should be fabricated, or where do we order a certain supply from, etc. I would also stop by the shop to check on how a project was coming along, but the conversations always turned to our personal lives. During this time I bought 5 acres and started building a house. Mel had always offered his help during the construction and he helped with setting the trusses and also when it came time to install the trim. Did I mention he was a giving person? 5 years later I had the opportunity to work back in the Millshop and I decided to make the move, and why not, I would be working with Mel again! During this time working with him we had the most fun. Some of the biggest memories are the shop cookouts we would have. Boy did he love those days! Just the mention of food would perk him up! Did I mention he loved food? I also remember that he loved the Tech Service Parties at Wet 'n Wild! He would get enough tickets so that his entire family could enjoy the day as well. When you saw him at the event he was always beaming with delight! Funny thing with Mel, he was always positive and upbeat. He always looked on the bright side of things. Many reviews that I had helped our supervisors write for Mel's evaluation included this attitude. One observation I wrote "Mel is the employee we should all strive to be!" During this time He and myself would get together after work or weekends to see a local band, or a woodworking show, or some convention. Wow, Mel loved shows and conventions! He loved going from table to table to see what "freebies" were being given away. And if there was food being given away, stand back! One of the shows we had both gone to was the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta. My wife could not go and she wanted someone to go with me so naturally I asked Mel. We planned on leaving Orlando after work on a Thursday and drive up to Atlanta. To get to Atlanta is about a 7 hour drive, so we finally got there just before midnight! When checking in at the hotel, they asked if we wanted a single bed or 2 beds. We looked at each other and both said, "yea, we're good friends, but not that good!" It was always goofy times with Mel! When we got to the room, I remember going into the bathroom and coming out and Mel was already sleeping on the top of the bed still in his clothes! He ended up sleeping like that all night! But boy did he love that show! Big equipment sawing and machining wood, he was in his element! Mel bought a motorcycle and loved to drive that thing! He drove it to work and on the weekends everywhere! I told him one day where there are some backroads to get to my house in Clermont and he was always coming by just to drive the back roads. There was even one time where myself and another person from the shop rented motorcycles for the weekend and the 3 of us drove over to Crystal River. We had such a good time. Eventually He bought a motorcycle for his Wife and the two of them would go on rides and some of the times they would end up at my house. One of the conversations Mel and I had was about Home Theater. Boy did he love great sound! Him or I would always have some news about the next great this or that! I always remember him coming into work and saying, "well, I got another pair of speakers!" He would love sitting on my couch for hours and we would listen to snippets of songs or movies! I worked with Mel up until he could no longer be in the shop. The times we had both in the shop and away from it were joyous. I tried to get with him last year and go to woodworking show in Tampa. When I spoke to Carol on the phone she mention that he does not do woodworking anymore as his memory had deteriorated to that point and he would not be able to go. When I got off the phone with her I cried. I don't think there was a better person than he to hang out with. I will always remember his HUGE laugh! Every time you heard it, it would make you laugh as well. Even if you don't know what the conversation was about! He was a man who loved life to the fullest! He is definitely an individual we should all strive to be like!!!