Remembering Allen Mello (10/7/34 - 2/14/25)

Growing up in Chelmsford, MA, his passion was cars. At the age of fifteen he took a job with the Chelmsford Cemetery Department to make money to buy old cars, rebuilding and reselling, then finding another. He ran a used parts business from his parent’s home. He was a ‘car guy’ from the beginning.

After graduating from Chelmsford High School he enlisted in the US Army, earned the rank of Military Police Sargent, then spent many years in the Army Reserves. After an honorable discharge from active duty, he returned to Chelmsford to work for the Highway Department before transferring to the Chelmsford Fire Department where he spent the next 27 years, earning the rank of Captain before retiring in 1978.

While a fireman he continued his love for cars, partnering with a friend who owned Buttonwood Motors, in Chelmsford Center, and eventually starting his own used car business, Allen Mello Auto, in North Chelmsford, MA. When he retired from the Chelmsford Fire Department, Allen took the leap to follow a lifelong dream of becoming a new car dealer, purchasing Manzi Dodge in 1978 and renaming it Allen Mello Dodge, in Nashua, NH. Subsequently, he started Contemporary Chrysler Plymouth Dodge, in Milford, NH, and purchased Milford Ford. As a leader within the automotive industry, he served many years on the boards of the Nashua New Car Dealers Association, NH Automobile Dealers Association, Chrysler National Dealer Council, and in 1994 was the NH Time Dealer of the Year Nominee.

He enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, boating on Lake Winnipesaukee, and was an active member of the community. Allen was a 32nd degree Mason and member of the former William North Masonic Lodge, now known as the Pentucket Lodge in Lowell, MA, a Shriner, member of the Chelmsford Minute Men, and member of the Chelmsford Lodge of Elks. In his later years, Allen enjoyed collecting and restoring antique pedal cars.

Allen is survived by his wife, Linda (Comtois) Mello, and her sons and grandchildren: Bryan Comtois and wife Kelly Comtois of Amherst, NH, and their children Jackson and Vivienne; Daniel Comtois and wife Beth Comtois of Wilton, NH, and their children, Griffith and Reese.

He is also survived by his children and grandchildren, who he shared with his predeceased wife, Avis J. (Huslander) Mello: his daughter, Audrey Mello-Hammer, her husband, David Hammer of Bedford, NH, and their children, Jared and Austin; and his son, Allen J. Mello, his wife, Linda (Daigle) Mello of Nashua, NH, and their children, Allen and Andrea. As well as his sister Genevieve (Mello) Walker of Nashua, NH.

A private funeral and graveside services will take place at a later date in Amherst, NH. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit: https://www.smith-heald.com/obituaries/allen-mello

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Allen’s memory may be made to either:

Home Health & Hospice Care in Merrimack, NH

or

NHAEF (NH Automotive Education Foundation)