Allen C. Mello

Allen C. Mello, 90, born October 7, 1934, in Lowell, MA, son of the late James C. Mello and Gertrude (Allen) Mello, passed away peacefully on February 14, 2025, at his new home in Amherst, NH with his loving wife and their families by his side. 

Growing up in Chelmsford, MA, his passion was cars. At the age of fifteen he took a job with the Chelmsford Cemetery Department so he could purchase old cars from his neighbors. In his parent’s garage, he and his friends would rebuild these vehicles to understand their inner workings, and often competed to see who was the fastest with a rebuild. He ran a used parts business from his parent’s home and this passion eventually led to a career in the automotive industry.

Allen enlisted in the US Army, and achieved the rank of Military Police Sargent, and spent many years in the Army Reserves. After being Honorably discharged from Active Duty, he returned to Chelmsford, MA and worked for the Chelmsford Highway Department. As Town Managers noticed Allen’s determination and work ethic, they approached him to apply for a position with the Chelmsford Fire Department where he achieves the rank of Captain before retiring in 1978.

When not at his full-time job, Allen continued to pursue his passion for automobiles. He partnered with a friend who owned Buttonwood Motors, in Chelmsford Center and began selling used cars. Later he opened his own used car business, Allen Mello Auto, in North Chelmsford, MA. After retiring from the Chelmsford Fire Department, he took the leap to follow a lifelong dream of becoming a new car dealer, purchasing Manzi Dodge and renaming it Allen Mello Dodge, in Nashua, NH. In the following years he would open Contemporary Chrysler Plymouth Dodge, in Milford, NH, and purchase Milford Ford. As a leader within the automotive industry, he served many years on the boards of the Nashua New Car Dealers Association, NH Automobile Dealers Association, Chrysler National Dealer Council, and in 1994 was the NH Time Dealer of the Year nominee. Allen’s quick wit and compassion attracted numerous friends and employees, several of which have over thirty years of employment within his business.

Allen led an adventurous life and had an exceptional eye for detail. He enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, boating on Lake Winnipesaukee, and was an active member of the community. Allen was a 32nd degree Mason and member of the former William North Masonic Lodge, now known as the Pentucket Lodge in Lowell, MA and a Shriner, member of the Chelmsford Minute Men, and member of the Chelmsford Lodge of Elks. In his later years, Allen enjoyed collecting and restoring antique peddle cars. 

Allen is survived by his wife, Linda (Comtois) Mello, and her sons and grandchildren: Bryan Comtois and wife Kelly Comtois of Amherst, NH, and their children Jackson and Vivienne; Daniel Comtois and wife Beth Comtois of Wilton, NH, and their children, Griffith and Reese.

He is also survived by his children and grandchildren, who he shared with his predeceased wife, Avis J. (Huslander) Mello: his daughter, Audrey Mello-Hammer, her husband, David Hammer of Bedford, NH, and their children, Jared and Austin; and his son, Allen J. Mello, his wife, Linda (Daigle) Mello of Nashua, NH, and their children, Allen and Andrea. As well as his sister Genevieve (Mello) Walker of Nashua, NH.

A private funeral and graveside services will take place at a later date in Amherst, NH. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit: www.smith-heald.com 

In leu of flowers, memorial donations in Allen’s memory may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis foundation at: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 20 Trafalgar Square Suite 447 Nashua, NH 03063 or at https://www.cff.org/donate.