| Notes |
- 1895-Sunday Herald, Syracuse, NY--
Miss Elma L. Gahrar of Brooklyn and
Dr. P. Melfi of this city were married
at the residence of the bride's father.
Dr. R. Gahrar, in Brooklyn. The Rev.
Dr. Oswald officiated. After a wedding
Journey, Doctor and Mrs. Melfi will be
at home after June 20th at the Greyhound
building in this city. (Married June 10, 1895)
Obituary--Syracuse Journal, 17 April 1917
(with half-tone picture shown here) --
MUSICIAN, PHYSICIAN, TEACHER,
LINGUIST, SUCCUMBED TO-DAY
Dr. Peppino Melfi of the Greyhound
Apartments, 149 James, physician,
flute virtuoso and teacher, died this
morning at the Hospital of the Good
Shepherd following an illness of about
a year. He suffered from kidney
trouble which developed heart dis-
ease. He was a patient at the hos-
pital for two weeks six weeks ago and
had been at the Institution an equal
period when he died.
Dr. Melfi was born in Italy 57 years
ago. At the age of seven he began
the study of the flute and had played
and taught that instrument almost
continuously ever since. Before com-
ing to America when a young man, he
played in nearly every European coun-
try. He held the distinction of play-
ing flutes made by Boehm himself.
After reaching this country
he played for a time in various Eastern
cities and shortly settled in Syracuse.
He entered the College of Medicine,
Syracuse University, and was gradu-
ated in the early 80's, with the de-
gree of M. D. For a time thereafter
he taught Italian and French on the
Hill, combining this avocation with
the playing and teaching of the flute
and the practice of medicine. He was
a linguist of note, speaking five lan-
guages.
Dr. Melfi had a natural fascination
for music and this pursuit eventually
won him. He devoted only a part of
his time to the medical practice, while
numbering among his pupils on the
flute children of the wealthiest fami-
lies in Syracuse. His followings were
diversified. Besides playing and teach-
ing the flute he played various other
instruments and also taught the harp
for a number of years.
He was a member of the Musicians
Union and for many years played in
various theater orchestras. His last
position of this kind was with the
Strand orchestra, where he played
until his illness a year ago. For many
years he conducted his office in the
Grand Opera House Block, but for
the last several years had been located
in the Greyhound Apartments.
Dr. Melfi was married in this city
in 1896 to Elma Gahar, daughter of
the late Dr. Robert Gahar, at one
time a prominent practitioner of
Brooklyn. She survives him, besides
two sons, Robert and Joseph Melfi.
Aside from the Musicians Union, Dr.
Melfi was a member of the Syracuse
Medical Association and the Royal
Arcanum. The funeral will probably
take place Thursday.
The funeral will be held from the
undertaking rooms of Meagher & Cody
Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial
will be at Woodlawn Cemetery.
|
, d. 14 May 1970 (Age 74 years) [natural]