Ray Mello, Hempfield softball legend, remembered for his commitment to team, players

Ray Mello, an instrumental coach for the Hempfield Area softball team, will long be remembered for his commitment to the sport and his dedication to the players.

Mello died Sunday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 82.

“He impacted so many people in the community,” said Bob Kalp, former head coach for the softball team. “Selfless is the best adjective you could use for him. He wanted nothing for himself. He wanted it for the kids, the pitchers, the program, the team.”

Mello became involved in softball when his daughters began playing, said his wife, Bobbi. After coaching at West Point Little League, Mello became a volunteer assistant coach for the high school team. He held that position for 25 years. Mello retired from the team this past summer.

“In high school, he followed all the girls, he knows all the ones that graduated, he knows where they played and what they’re doing,” Bobbi Mello said. “My granddaughter, he followed her the whole way through. He was very in touch with all the girls, and they really bonded with each team. They won four state championships.”

According to Bobbi Mello, Ray grew up in Massachusetts on a dairy farm. He eventually moved to Seattle, where he worked as a civil engineer for Boeing. Wanting to be closer to his family, he moved to Hempfield. During that time, he worked as an engineer at Westinghouse.

Ray and Bobbi Mello were married for four years. The couple, who met at a softball game, both were previously married and had three and four children each, respectively.

“My daughter played under him, and she grew up and her children did. … It’s all softball,” Bobbi Mello said. “The whole family and everything.”

Kalp, who was previously a basketball coach, credits Mello for getting him started in softball.

“He recruited me to take a team the following year for softball,” Kalp said. “I told him at the time, ‘I coach basketball. I’m not a softball coach.’ He said, ‘You’re a coach, and if you’re a coach you’ll be able to do it.’ So he got me started.”

That start led Kalp to a storied career serving 25 years as head coach for the Hempfield Area softball team.

During that stint, Kalp said he tried to get Mello to accept a paid position on the team. However, Mello instead wanted Kalp to use the funds for other team-related items.

“He wanted to work as a volunteer and he was there more than anybody, more than the paid coaches,” Kalp said.

Kalp noted a field at West Point Little League and a dugout at Hempfield Area High School are named for Mello.

“He’s had a monumental footprint on softball in Westmoreland County,” Kalp said.

In addition to his wife, Mello is survived by his children, Kevin Mello, Marie Stowers and Christina Anderson; his stepchildren, Jeff and Michael Musiak, Jennifer Walter and Shelly Ryan; and 14 grandchildren.

Arrangements are being handled by Kepple Graft Funeral Home.