In Memoriam Melinda Bengels

Melinda Bengels

The family of Melinda Bengels sadly announces her passing on October 25th from massive kidney failure due to an allergic reaction. She would have been 24 in November. Melinda is survived by her parents, Barbara and Dennis; three sisters, Elizabeth, Emily, and Jessica Bengels; her niece and nephew, Juliet and Gregory Papadopoulos, her brother-in-law, Christos, and her grandparents, Hannah and Seymour Bengels of Great Neck.

Despite her death at such a young age, Melinda lived to experience many joyful moments. She loved traveling and had been across the United States many times as well as throughout Europe, Scandinavia, and the Caribbean with her family. She loved music and was accomplished on the piano, flute, and violin. Most of all, she loved Broadway shows and dance and had studied at the American Theatre Dance Workshop from the age of three until she graduated from high school. For the last two years of her high school career, she attended the Long Island High School of the Arts (formerly BOCES Cultural Arts Center), majoring in dance. After high school, she lived in Florida but had recently returned to study American Sign Language at NCC while working at the Wyndham Condominium in Garden City.

A chronically ill child from birth, Melinda faced many hardships as well as learning disabilities. Nonetheless, through hard work and her indomitable spirit, she accrued many honors. Faced with frequent IV medications, she transformed her unhappiness into a painting which won the Reflections award while she was still at Locust School and only in the first grade. Later, she also won several music awards and was given a scholarship to attend the University of Kansas Music Camp where she studied flute and piccolo. At the Garden City Middle School she did an outstanding job choreographing LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and GREASE . While in the Garden City High School, she petitioned to have the holiday dances (which required dates) changed to parties so that all could attend.

When South Bound Brook, N.J., where her sister Emily lived, was inundated with water, she initiated a community drive for clothing, food, and toys. She also helped plan a Senior Citizens' Dance performance at the BOCES Cultural Arts Center where she performed Bob Fosse's "Bye Bye Blackbird." Melinda was very active in Girl Scouts and achieved its highest honor, the Gold Award.

Most important of all, Melinda was a courageous, independent, vibrant, funny, fun-loving young woman, always willing to help others, loved by little children, and determined to live life on her own terms. She touched many lives and her beautiful smile and spirit will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, her parents have set up an award in her name at the Long Island High School for the Arts, 239 Cold Spring Road, Syosset, NY 11791.