To Melanie's family:

I learned of Melanie's passing only this week, and I am truly saddened by the loss of someone so spirited, and so kind. Please know that many people are thinking of her with great affection, and of you with deepest sympathy.

Elizabeth Brandon
MBC '95

Dear Jeff and family of Melanie,

I recently heard of your very sad news. I knew Melanie very well both as a fellow singer in Baldwin Charm and a fellow drama enthusiast in the MBC theater. Our paths crossed again and again as students and as frequent visitors to VMI. I always knew Melanie to be a determined young woman, as well as an excellent Soprano. I will never forget her. Please know that my prayers are with all of you.

Gina DeMarchi Taylor - MBC '92

Oh, sweet, sweet Melanie... My joy is in knowing that you are dancing with Jesus, even as we all miss you so desperately. A smile creeps onto my lips as I imagine you leaping across the Stage of Heaven.

To Jeff and Mel's family... You are in our prayers. May you be comforted in knowing what an incredible impact Melanie had in the lives of so many. Thank you for loving her and for sharing her with us.

The Halls

Dear Jeff & Family of Melanie Vent,

We wanted to express our condolances from our family to yours. We hope that you will find solace in your time of mourning. Our family is greatful to have been blessed to know Melanie, and felt of your families strength during the trying times as it has been an example for us to follow. Jeff our prayers are with you and know that we are always here for you. If there is anything we can do at anytime please let us know.

Respectfully,

Brent, Lee, Alex & Keegan Heckel

To the family of Melanie,

Although it is never easy to write at a time such as this, it is so very important that the memories we have are shared so that the light of greatness continues to flicker. Is it is this very light that brightens the sorrow in our hearts.

Melanie was one year ahead of me at Mary Baldwin. We sang together often, as we both spent hours in the rehearsal rooms of Deming. Melanie was a woman of passion, who loved every moment of life, and it was this that I so admired about her. I will never forget Melanie and the leadership she provided me as a student.

So, today, I wish you all the strength to carry you through; tomorrow I wish you the hope to bring you comfort; and always, I wish you the warmth of these memories to fill your hearts with peace.

Sincerely,
Jacqui Elliott
MBC Class of 1993

I would like to express my deep sympathy for the family of Melanie Madison Vent. I knew Melanie quite well, and on the day she died I just happened to be watching the video tape of her performance in the 1999 Mary Baldwin performance of The Mikado, which I directed and in which she played the lead. The tape captures her vivacity quite well and brings back some quite vivid memories. I'm sorry to hear that such energy and good humor have been stilled. Frank Southerington

I want to share with you a poem by W.H. Auden, titled Funeral Blues. I believe the poem encapsulates the feelings of the lost of a loved one.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever; I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood,
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Jeff, in time the bad memories of Melanie’s illness and death will fade and you will recall the wonderful memories you had with Melanie, which you can always cherish.
GOD bless,
SA Bob Lee and Bess Lee

Please accept our heart felt condolences for your lose.

Special Agent Bob Lee & Family

Jeff,

There’s never anything good say to make a person feel better after they have lost a person so very close to them. It is my misfortune that I never got a chance to know Melanie; however, I did get to know you. It’s always the person left behind that feels the greatest impact. You were there for me at the lowest point in my life, when all my family was nearly killed in a vehicle accident. The prayers of my boys and I are with you and all of your family. Please if there is anything I can do to help ease the burden during such a time of personal loss, don’t hesitate to call (home: 321-784-3255 or personal cell: 321-698-4082), email (trustseven@earthlink.net), or snail mail me (5442 Stormy Lane, Patrick AFB, FL 32925). Warmest Regards!

Sincerely

Tim

Melanie always made me smile. Especially when we started singing broadway showtunes.

I was glad Melanie and Scott Decker invited me to join into the Vent in-law club. We had our own support group to meet and discuss these "Vents" we married.

As My Fair Lady states, "I've grown accustomed to her face":

I could have danced all night
I could have danced all night
and still have begged for more

I could have spread my wings
and done a thousand things
I've never done before

I could have danced, danced, danced . . . all night!

Dear Jeff,
It's been a while since we worked together, but I just found out about Melanies passing and wanted to convey my sincere condolances. I wish her godspeed and hope you find strength in her loving memory. Andy Morris

To Jeff, and all of Melanie's family,

My heart is breaking right now, and I wanted to pass along my deepest condolences.

Melanie was one of my heroes when I worked with her on the MBC stage. Her passion for the work inspired me, and still does. Toward the end of my freshman year, when she was a junior and looking toward her senior project, she asked me to write her a one-woman show. It was an incredible honor, and the opportunity to spend a year writing for her and working with her is something I will always treasure. It was truly spectacular to see her, luminous, up on that stage, transforming flat words into something even more than I could have ever imagined.

Melanie was passionate, principled, and fiercely dedicated to the arts and those who, like her, loved to communicate through theatre, music and dance. The world is a little quieter, a little less dazzling, without her in it.

I wish you comfort in this difficult time, and know that there are many of us sharing in your grief and keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Genie Gratto
MBC '94

Dear Jeff, Mr. and Mrs. Vent and family,
I was so sorry to hear of Melanie passing away. I'm sorry that I never had to chance to meet her. I know she had to very special, because Jeff you were always a very kind and caring person. God Bless you and your family.
Your neighbor and "Class of 88"
Love Lucinda

We are so sorry to hear of yet another loss for your family. We know you are suffering immeasurable pain and we want you to know that you are in our thoughts.

My deepest condolences to the entire family...

To the family of Melanie Vent,
We wanted to pass our deepest condolences for your loss. Melanie was a beautiful person and a wonderful spirit. We felt blessed to have known her and were inspired by the fight in her. May God be with you all in your time of need.

Sincerely,
Bryan & Maryana St. Bernard

To Jeff Vent, and the family of Melanie Madison Vent,

Melanie touched our lives and our daughter's lives several times over the years when she was working for Children's Community Theatre in Rockledge, FL. Melanie lit the spark in hundreds of boys and girls for the love of the "arts". Her choreography in dance as well as musical theater was outstanding. Everyone in her productions had a special part and a reason to be on stage. She was so full of life and so giving. She was a friend too. She gave my daughter Andrea private dance lessons as well and caught some things that she was doing incorrectly. If she hadn't noticed them, Andrea could have injured herself as she got older. April's daughters, Natalie and Samantha, also were touched by Melanie's talents. All of us will miss her greatly, but we have wonderful memories of her, her accomplishments, and her desire to share her passion with others. Jeff, our prayers are with you and both of your families at this time. Melanie put up the strongest fight against cancer that I have ever heard of. April Strom asked me to pass on her family's love and condolences along with ours because she is in Alabama taking care of her parents.
Love to you all,
the families of
Beverly, Andrea, & Ed Precaido and
April, Natalie, Samanatha, & Paul Strom.

Dear family of Melanie,
I was so very sorry to hear of Melanie's death. I was one of her theatre teachers, and I remember her so very well at Mary Baldwin! I can see her in my mind's video of Lysistrata, which I directed, in that bright, wonderful twenties dress, climbing right over the railing to get her man. She was one of the world's bright souls, and we are all poorer for her loss. God's comfort to all of you,

Ginny Francisco

To the family of the late Melanie Madison Vent:

I remember Melanie's uniqueness. Her gifts and her strong desire to share those gifts once others. I also remember her compassion and how she spent time during our college years transporting a fellow student to chemotherapy treatments. Mel was a good soul and will always be remembered.

Sincerely,

Buffy DeBreaux-Watts
MBC Theatre, '93