Dr. Emanuel "Emil" O. Melichar

On April 7, 2022, Dr. Emanuel O. Melichar lost his long fought battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  Born in Cicero, IL on March 31, 1932, the son of immigrants from Czecholslavakia, he grew up bi-lingual on the family farm in Lisle, IL, a suburb of Chicago.  He graduated from The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.  He served in the Army during the Korean War for which he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.  He subsequently earned his Doctorate in Economics degree from the University of Connecticut. He became a Professor of Economics at the University of Richmond while working at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, until he was hired by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C., as a Senior Economist.    He was responsible for testimony before Congress and some of his research is accredited and recognized for helping solve the national farm and bank crisis of the 1980’s.

He was an avid sportsman of all genres. Upon retirement he continued playing sports, was a consultant and guest speaker across the country.  He spent time in Las Vegas, enrolling in courses at UNLV to continue to learn and be educated in other areas.  Loved most of all, he traveled, particularly to his family’s homeland, the Czech Republic.

He is survived by his brother, Paul Melichar, his former wife Charlotte Melichar, his daughters Laurie Melichar, Valerie Stephens, Debbie Friedman (Larry), Robin Pesnell (Gary), Leah Leuschner (Ian) and his grandchildren Amy, Jason & Nicole Stephens, Kaila Friedman and William Leuschner.  A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Chicago, IL.  In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation on the Tribute page at www.michaeljfox.org.    

Please share a sentiment or memory with the family on the Tribute Wall. The family made a loving tribute video that you can watch here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kVwic-F1hRIE6F0DBz1rm2-XkGRJNYdG/view