Dr. Melissa Jane Fiesta

Dr. Melissa Jane Fiesta,54, beloved Daughter of Attorney Janine Fiesta, and the late Richard Fiesta; devoted Mother of Marcus Williams, died suddenly on June 5, 2024 of pulmonary emboli in Long Beach, California where she had resided since 1999. In addition to her Mother and Son who reside together in Pittsburgh, Melissa is survived by her Great Aunt, Mary Sulkowski of Wayne, Pa and her Godfather, Uncle Bill and Aunt Mary Fiesta of Southwest, Pa as well as several cousins, including Michael, Billy, Bryan and Rayne Fiesta, the Rerko and Kudas families, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her father and her special Grandparents, John and Sophie (Sulkowski) Mutnansky, and Michael and Edna (Rosendale) Fiesta, as well as her Godmother Joan Menes. Dr. Fiesta was a graduate of Moravian Academy, Class of 1987, where she received the John Comenius Award for the highest academic average, the Frances Storrs award presented for outstanding qualities of character, gentleness, understanding, and respect for others as well as the Franklin and Marshall award for excellence in the study of the humanities. She was inducted into the cum laude society in her junior year. Thanks to her Guidance Counselor Marilyn Albarelli, she attended Wellesley College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude with a major in English literature. While completing a master's degree at Lehigh University with an emphasis in multicultural literature, she discovered the field of rhetoric and composition, which became her lifelong career. Upon finishing her master’s degree, she married her high school sweetheart, Dudley Blossom IV and moved to Tuscon where Dudley was beginning his post graduate studies at the University of Arizona. In Tuscon she particularly enjoyed her time teaching on a native American reservation. Following their divorce, she began studies at the University of Arizona. Her doctorate in English Rhetoric and Composition, from the University of Arizona, one of the first in the country, took her to California State University, Long Beach, together with her then husband, Dr. Mark Williams. Her dissertation centered around American women’s programs for social reform in the nineteenth century. This project was distinguished by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation Dissertation Fellowship. She also received the interdisciplinary Dissertation Prize in Women’s Studies at the University of Arizona in 1999. Following the birth of Marcus in 2000, she became a part time lecturer. She continued that career for the next 24 years both at CSULB as well as Long Angeles City College and Long Beach Community College. She submitted her final grades for the semester the day before her death. She enjoyed teaching students how to write and had a deep appreciation for diversity students as well as older students. Her ex-husband Mark commented that her students loved talking to her because she had a kind heart. One of her favorite days as a professor involved a return visit from a student who had graduated a decade earlier. This woman, in her 40’s, was one of many students who escaped from Vietnam at the end of the war and found themselves in California. Her English language skills were limited. With Melissa, she developed outstanding writing skills over a two-year period and graduated. This return visit was to present a copy of her own master's degree with a letter of appreciation to her beloved teacher. Melissa was humble in her profession, never seeking accolades or attention, happiest when she could see the growth of her students' writing skills. In her childhood she particularly enjoyed sitting in law school classes with her mother and learning how to play tennis with her father. He also taught her how to run, which led to her cross-country participation at Wellesley. A favorite time at Wellesley was her semester at sea in Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, where she learned to hoist the sails on the Joseph Conrad and studied marine biology. She chose this adventure because while in girl scouts with the with the Great Valley Girl Scout Council an opportunity to visit Mystic Seaport and sail on the Brilliant, a 74-foot schooner was presented. Until age eight, she enjoyed growing up in Manor, Pa., especially with her best friend, Laura Dowling Painter. In 1978, her mother was recruited by a close family friend, Dr. Paul Bosanac, to consider a law career in Allentown with Lehigh Valley Hospital. There Melissa attended St. Thomas More school and enjoyed her close friends, including Teresa Mullin, Karen Gewartowski and Monica McCaffrey. She also enjoyed playing the clarinet and guitar. As an adult, Melissa enjoyed traveling, with quarterly visits to her parents in Pennsylvania with Marcus. An annual visit to Wildwood Crest was a highlight. Their Beagle, Moose, also received her loving care and attention for all fifteen years of his life. Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family, with internment in St. Pius Cemetery next to her father. With her death, Melissa, as a tissue donor, provided the gift of life to eight patients with the donation of eyes, skin for burn patients, as well as heart valves and other tissues. In her memory, please consider an organ donation gift. Financial gifts in her name may be made to the Connellsville Area Community Ministries, P.O. Box 777, Connellsville, Pa. 15425. This is the largest food bank in Fayette County, the county of her mother’s childhood home and the poorest county in Pennsylvania. The Frank Kapr Funeral Home, Inc. has been entrusted by the family with Melissa’s arrangements. To view online obituary, send online condolences please visit www.kapr.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Melissa Jane Fiesta, please visit our floral store.