Emily and Luis Melendez Fund

To honor his late wife and her legacy, Luis Melendez established The Emily and Luis Melendez Scholarship Fund. Emily’s lifelong commitment to justice, fairness and equity shaped her career in public service. In collaboration with the Connecticut Association of Latinos in Higher Education (CALAHE), an educational advocacy nonprofit organization, the fund will provide scholarships to students with financial need. Emily provided CALAHE informal legal guidance during its formative years.  

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to working-class parents who deeply valued education, Emily was educated through the public school system and graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls. Her mother worked as a nurse practitioner, and her father was a social worker. Emily was the third of four daughters. 

Emily’s love for New England led her to the University of Hartford, where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. Following graduation, she remained at the university, working in the admissions and financial aid offices, where she met the love of her life, Luis. She later worked at the Connecticut State Department of Education before joining the staff of Governor Lowell Weicker as an educational liaison. Emily went on to earn her law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and built a long and distinguished career as an assistant attorney general for the State of Connecticut.  

Never considering private practice, Emily like her parents, was proud to be a public servant and care for the “people’s business.” Emily also served as the founding president of the Association of Connecticut Assistant Attorneys General, AFT CT Local 6574. 

Emily and Luis were married in1985 and beyond their biological families, they were blessed to build a large and loving extended family they called their “Chosen Family.” Composed of students, friends, and colleagues, this chosen family endures as a living tribute to Emily and Luis’ belief in “One world, One people, One family.” 

Emily and Luis shared their life centered on love, connection and shared moments with family and friends, spending time on their boat, the Emily R, and in Emily’s beloved garden.  When Emily died suddenly in 2021 at the age of 62, she and Luis had been married 36 years. Luis and the family continue to honor Emily’s memory by enjoying the pastimes they shared with her and have learned to care for Emily’s garden.

Luis loves that the fund reflects their shared belief in “education as transformative” and a pathway to equity, opportunity and lasting public impact.