Melvin
July 6, 2025 Peace Garden 855 Aurora St. Paul MN. Photo Lauri Flatley
July 2 came one of those e-mails we all have seen. Sender Terry Burke’s subject line to the mailing list of the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers: “Sad News”. The content brief: “We learned tonight that Melvin Giles passed away yesterday.” Terry’s e-mail continued: “We were very fortunate to know and work with Melvin for many years. It’s hard to believe this has happened. I spoke briefly with Jane and Robin tonight. Jane worked closely with Melvin on several projects and wants some space now to deal with this news – she has asked not to have any texts, emails or phone calls at this time. We will of course devote part of our meeting on Tuesday to share remembrances.”
I looked an obituary and found the first one in the St. Paul Pioneer Press: Melvin Giles July 4 2025. Melvin apparently died in his sleep. He was only 66 years old.
I was privileged to know Melvin for the last 19 years. In the twin cities, where he lived, the vast majority of people would have no idea who he was. On the other hand, most of them probably saw him in a long-running commercial urging people to become Organ Donors. I found a YouTube short video featuring Life Source. His promotion of organ donation is here (3 minutes). The video was made in his tiny neighborhood Peace Garden, at 855 Aurora in St. Paul, just east of the intersection with Aurora in the old Rondo-Frogtown neighborhood.
The celebration of Melvin’s life will be through Brooks Funeral Home, though there is no information there as of this moment.
I wrote about Melvin at this space in March, 2012, here. In June, 2014, two Fulbright Scholars from Pakistan interviewed Melvin in his Peace Garden. You can view it here, scroll down to Melvin Giles. The video is Melvin as he is, in his own words.
Melvin’s Peace Garden 855 Aurora Ave St. Paul MN
This was sad news about Melvin whom I met in his book “George Street. Our Street.” I am 80 years old and was also born on George Street in Chicago. 1219 W. to be exact. I also went to Lane Tech and could relate to a lot of what Melvin wrote about in his book. The irony in this note is that I too am writing a book about my life in Chicago, 18 years of which was in the house at 1219 W. George St. My book will be titled “My-Chi” (Growing up on Chicago’s North Side in the 1950’s and 1960’s. sort of a continuation of Melvin’s. Unless I hear objection or reason not to, I plan to mention Melvin and his book in mine. Anyone reading this, will like this story about my reflection and reembrace of 1219 https://richarderschik.substack.com/p/a-remarkable-connection-across-79?r=pea6d RIP Melvin as OUR story continues.