New Castle Center Mourns Loss of Center Director

by Jocelyn Wallace Grant Writer and Coordinator

For more than 15 years, Melissa Merritt served as the Director of the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Western Pennsylvania in New Castle, Pennsylvania. There, she dedicated her life to helping students with dyslexia discover their passions for reading and writing, and to training dozens of educators throughout her community.

As Director, Melissa was known for her compassion and unfailing dedication to those she served at the Center. “We always knew that she was in our corner and would do anything she could to help us,” said Elise Orazem, the current Director of the Western Pennsylvania Center, who had spent the last two years as Co-Director with Merritt. “She really made us into a family.” Adding, “She never met a stranger. She was likeable and approachable.”

Melissa Merritt

Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Even as it eventually metastasized to her bones, requiring her to undergo multiple procedures and leading to painful breaks, it never kept her out of the Center for long.

“I can’t even tell you how many surgeries she had over the past four years. Maybe 20? Her leg would break, her shoulder would break, her neck broke. The crazy thing was that she would have surgery and three days later she would be like, ‘Okay, I’m going to the bank and then I’ll be in the Center.’ And she’d be in here with crutches and a wheelchair, a cast, and braces— all kinds of things. She was just unstoppable,” Orazem said.

She loved being here. She loved seeing the families, seeing the students and being in touch with the tutors. She was so positive this fall.

One of Melissa’s most ambitious projects focused on the development of new and improved student notebooks that would allow for greater consistency and guidance across lessons. Even as she struggled through multiple surgeries and hospitalizations, she continued to research and improve on these notebooks so that every student could have access to the same quality of materials.

Unfortunately, the project stalled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained unfinished throughout. “It frustrated her, and she frequently mentioned that when we were back in-person, this project needed to be finished. I think that's why it sticks in our minds so strongly—she always worked so hard to meet needs, and this one was unfinished.”

She never met a stranger. She was likeable and approachable.

The Center eventually reopened in the Fall of 2021, and no one was happier about it than Melissa. “It was wonderful being back in the Center. She loved being here. She loved seeing the families, seeing the students and being in touch with the tutors. She was so positive this fall. She was just very happy to be back here.”

Melissa passed away January 8th, 2022, after her seven-and-a-half year battle with cancer. She was 54.

“They [the students and staff] were devastated when she passed away. They were just totally distraught. At her memorial service, our whole staff showed up, people from the Valley came, former tutors who haven’t worked here in years came, parents of students came. There was just a very, very strong showing, obviously, of the impact that she had in our Center and through the Center.”

With Merritt’s passing, Orazem and the rest of the Center are focused on honoring her legacy. “We’re not slowing down at all. We are holding a training class in June. We had 12 people interested in the last six weeks and we haven’t even sent out an ad or anything about it. It was really encouraging. We are moving forward,” she said.

“We want to continue to be that kind of organization that is supportive of our families, and our community, and the students that we serve. We want to continue to educate, to train educators and any other adult who is willing to be a part of our program.”

We always knew that she was in our corner and would do anything she could to help us.

The Center will be hosting an event on May 19th at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle, Pennsylvania to celebrate the success of students and tutors graduating from the program and to honor Merritt’s memory and years of service.

To learn more about the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Western Pennsylvania, or how you can get involved, please visit: www.childrensdyslexiacenters.org

Melissa sharing a smile with her niece