From his early years through his later life, Mel Caughell displayed a love of service to others.
Many came to know Caughell through his involvement in numerous organizations and activities. Most notable were the Oakland Unified School District Board, the Oakland Zoological Board, the Elmhurst Lions Club and Rotary Club of Oakland #3. Caughell also became a highly active parent at Oakland’s Bishop O’Dowd and Alameda’s St. Joseph Notre Dame high schools.
In whatever capacity, Caughell earned the respect and admiration of others wherever he went. A native of San Francisco and longtime Oakland resident, Caughell died Dec. 16 at age 97 in Walnut Creek. On Jan. 10, family and friends filled that city’s St. Anne’s Catholic Church to pay their final respects and remember a man who had touched the lives of so many others for so many decades.
“As (Mel’s) son, Rob, said in the eulogy … his father was a ‘people person,’ ” said former SJND principal Tony Aiello. “Listening to Rob describe the journey of his father’s life, I am convinced that Mel believed service to be a sacred duty.”
The eldest child of Genevieve and Hugh Caughell, Melvin Joseph Caughell was born Oct. 25, 1922, in San Francisco. Raised in Oakland, he quickly connected to his community. Caughell went on to graduate in 1941 from Castlemont High School, where he served as student body president as well as head cheerleader. Never content to just stay on the sidelines, Caughell also played on the Knights basketball and baseball teams.
Caughell then went to San Jose State College (now University), only to soon enlist in the U.S. Navy. A radio operator, Caughell served aboard the USS White Plains in World War II. Most notably, he survived the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines.
Upon returning to civilian life, Caughell’s commitment to helping others continued. Always a champion for education, Caughell served on the board of the Oakland Unified School District from 1961 to 1978, including two terms as its president. During his tenure, Caughell also represented Oakland on the Alameda County Board of Education.
Caughell also exuded a strong love for his family, a steadfast commitment to his own children’s education and to that of their peers, as he served on parent boards at O’Dowd and SJND, helping reinvigorate the boosters at both high schools.
“Despite his work schedule and his civic responsibilities, Mel and (his wife) Joan supported their children in their activities,” Aiello said. “He attended his sons’ baseball and basketball games. Mel gave his all to St. Joseph Notre Dame. When the school needed something done, Mel was there, more than willing to offer his expertise and his help.”
Professionally, Caughell enjoyed success in sales and management at Cochran and Celli Chevrolet in Oakland. He ultimately retired as a sales associate at Brunk Leasing. The “people skills” that served Caughell so well in business also served him well in other aspects of life, as fellow SJND parent Rich Campbell attests. Long a popular draw for high school boys basketball, the Pilots routinely packed their gym during the days of Calvin Byrd and future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd from the mid-1980s to the early ’90s (SJND was state Division I champion during Kidd’s junior and senior seasons, 1991 and ’92). Unfortunately, the Pilots’ gym (now known as Kelly Gymnasium) did not have enough capacity to accommodate all the fans.
“This was in the days of legendary coach Frank LaPorte,” Campbell said. “Due to the team’s notoriety there were sellouts for every game. Mel, my late wife, Jo, and I manned the doors at basketball games for about 10 years. Mel was a master salesman, a quality that was needed to calm the waters for disgruntled fans who we could not allow into the games. Always a gentleman, he used his charm to greet everyone and make the game a great experience.”
SJND showed its appreciation for Caughell by inducting him in its inaugural Hall of Fame class of 1994 (Campbell was inducted two years later). Beyond school commitments, Caughell was appointed to the Oakland Zoological Board in the 1980s. Additional community service included membership in the Elmhurst Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Oakland #3. Caughell served as that Rotary chapter’s president in 1985, was a Paul Harris Fellowship Award recipient (named for the Rotary International founder and given to those who make, or have made in their name, contributions of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International) and received the honor of Rotarian of the Year in 1998 for his lifetime of exceptional community service.
“Mel and I joined Oakland Rotary together in 1975,” said fellow Rotarian Jack McAboy, himself a past president. “Mel was president in 1985, only 10 years after he joined. This was a remarkable ascent to the presidency, as one is required to serve for four years before being elected to the board and another two years serving on the board before becoming eligible to serve as president.
Mel was a true cheerleader in everything he did. He was always positive and calm in his many leadership roles and yet very enthusiastic in fully supporting whatever project he was involved in. He had a very strong speaker’s voice, and I remember how he closed every meeting when he was president, ‘Don’t you keep Oakland Rotary a secret!’ In his later years, he volunteered in the Rotary office, continuing his support of Rotary and its programs and members. He was a mentor to me and many other ‘younger’ members.”
On a personal level, Caughell was very proud of his family. In 1951 he married the love of his life, Joan Inzerilla, with whom he celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary last April. In addition to Joan, Caughell is survived by his brother, Bob; sons Terry and his wife, Joan; Rob and his wife, Karen; and Ken and his wife, Maryann; daughter Maureen and her husband, Frank Padilla; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
“Mel valued his friendships; all those he met became his friends,” Aiello said. “He was especially close to his graduating class of 1941, organizing many reunions. He cared for the Oakland he loved … he was a friend to so many.”
Added Campbell, “Mel was one of those people who would give you the shirt off his back. Always a good friend.”
“He will be missed by all who knew him and never forgotten for all he did for Oakland,” McAboy said.
Caughell’s family asks that donations to honor him be made to the Oakland Rotary #3 Endowment Fund at 1736 Franklin St., Suite 200, in Oakland.