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In 1963, Paul and Mildred Krentel’s sixth child was born with Down syndrome. On their doctor’s recommendation, they placed Melissa in a facility in Maumee, Ohio—but they were unhappy. They wanted their daughter to grow up in a home-like setting, with peers for playmates. Yet no such place could be found close to where they lived.

In 1966, they courageously sold their home and purchased a 35-room mansion in Berwyn, PA, creating a loving home for Melissa and some friends. They christened it Melmark.

In less than a year Melmark was providing loving care for 51 children. The unique program featured intensive staffing, nursing care, and special education classes. Residents enjoyed drama, music, and other activities emphasizing happy lifestyles.

In 1968, Melmark obtained private school licensing and began building classrooms; in 1972, a gymnasium and pool were added, along with three cottages to accommodate 45 more residents. Melmark was serving 130 residents and still growing. Throughout the mid-seventies and eighties, several freestanding homes were built on the campus, and programming was differentiated by age, ability, and healthcare needs.

In the nineties, Paul and “Miggy” Krentel retired and leadership transitioned to others. In 1996, Joanne Gillis-Donovan, Ph.D., joined Melmark’s team, and in 1997, was appointed President and CEO. Under Dr. Donovan’s leadership, Melmark programs widely diversified the populations they served, as well as how long and where they served them. In 1997, the first of a continuing series of community homes for adults opened.

In 1998, the agency celebrated the opening of Melmark New England, a community-based, approved private school in Andover, MA. This program provides educational, clinical, and community residential services to students with autism, brain injury, and challenging behaviors.

Today, with a combined staff of 653 people, Melmark serves 278 children and adults with a wide range of developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. For more information about our Massachusetts program, please visit www.melmarkne.org. Staff also provide consultation to public schools in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

As one of the premier organizations in the country offering services to those with special needs, Melmark continues to encourage individuals to achieve their maximum potential through progressive clinical programs provided with loving care—just as it did in the very beginning.