Melissa A. Carter

Melissa Ann Carter was a loving daughter, mother, sister, and friend.  She left this world suddenly on May 29, 2022.  Born to Robert and Helen Dobbins on June 29, 1966, Melissa grew up in Westfield, NJ before attending Drexel University from which she graduated with High Honors.  She began her career path in the Philadelphia area, which would lead her to a long and succssful career with the Pennsylvania College of Optometry,  later becoming Salus University.   

There, Melissa held a number of leadership positions, culminating in her appointment as Executive Director of World Council of Optometry.  It was in this capacity that she traveled the world, often utilizing her impressive bilingual skills to interact with different cultures and establish an immediate rapport with the people, critical skills when leading challenging global public health initiatives.  Melissa's passion for life-long learning eventually led to her earning a Master of Public Health, which afforded her the opportunity to join the faculty at Salus University and teach its first course on Health Literacy.  This was the role she was born to, sharing her knowledge with others as a teacher, always with thoroughness, intelligience, and humor.

While Melissa relished her work and the many unique experiences and challenges it afforded, she absolutely loved being a mother to her daughter Ariana, whom she considered the greatest joy of her life.

After an early retirement due to chronic illness, Melissa lived in Maryland for a few years before moving to Massachusetts in 2020 to care for her mother.  She met the challenge of a major life change in the midst of a pandemic with determination and grace, making many new friends in the process.  Melissa loved to travel, loved art (and was a pretty decent artist herself) and loved flowers, all a reflection of her intellectual curiosity and creative spirit.

Melissa is survived by her beloved daughter and son-in-law, Ariana and Anthony Campo, her mother, Helen Dobbins, her sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Donald Layman, her brother, sister-in-law and nephews, Jonathan, Fran, Liam, and Aidan Dobbins, many more relatives and friends, and her loyal dog, Phinneas.  Melissa looks forward to the time she’ll see you all again.

Services will be held Saturday, June 4th at F. S. Roberts & Son Funeral Home. 14 Independent Street, Rowley, with visitation from 10AM-12PM, followed by Christian funeral service and burial at Rowley cemetery.  The family respectfully requests that attendants to the service wear masks while inside to protect medically vulnerable members.  

Anyone wishing to make a charitable donation in Melissa's memory is encouraged to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Masssachusetts, www.namimass.org, American Foundation for Sucide Prevention, www.afsp.org, or Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, www.acceleratedcure.org.

To light a memorial candle or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.fsrobertsandson.com/obituary/Melissa-Carter.

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