Louis (Lou) A. Meli, Jr. of New Canaan, Connecticut (until early 2012 a lifelong resident of Wilmington, Delaware) passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at the Waveny Care Center in New Canaan, Connecticut, after a long illness. Lou was born February 4, 1924 in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of the late Louis (Sr.) and Clara Meli. Lou graduated from Wilmington High School, Class of 1941, and from the University of Delaware, Class of 1949. Lou served in the Army during World War II. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart and other service awards. In 1953 Lou married the late Anne Neeson, also of Wilmington. Lou spent most of his career as a partner in the Meli Insurance Agency, founded by his father. Lou and Anne lived in Wilmington for many years in retirement, until relocating to Connecticut in 2012 to be closer to their son and his family. Lou maintained a strong network of relationships in Wilmington and throughout Delaware. He was a faithful Roman Catholic and a longtime parishioner at both St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Helena’s in Wilmington. Lou was also a faithful supporter of University of Delaware football, holding fifty-yard-line season tickets for decades, and following the team to many away games. Lou was also a longtime member of the University and Whist Club and the Concord Country Club, where his most enjoyable hours were spent in intense Gin Rummy matches with a close group of friends. However, Lou’s most compelling diversions were his daily hour spent digesting The New York Times, and listening to Big Band and Dixieland jazz. (Key favorites were Count Basie and the local Rent Party Revellers.) Above all Lou was devoted to his family. Lou’s quiet reliability, charitable nature, love of children, and great sense of humor were all deeply valued by his immediate and extended family, and he will be greatly missed. Lou is survived by his son Chris Meli and Chris’s wife Susan Brill of New Canaan, Connecticut, and his grandchildren, Anna, Claire, Catherine and Andrew. Lou was preceded in death by his wife Anne and his brothers, Robert, Alfred, and John. Those wishing to remember Lou are encouraged to support Wilmington’s charitable organizations of which Lou was a lifetime supporter, such as the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington (www.ccwilm.org) and the Sunday Breakfast Mission (www.sundaybreakfastmission.org). For online condolences visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com