Alexander James Meltzer

Alexander James Meltzer

Wappingers Falls, NY

Alexander James Meltzer, 70, of Wappingers Falls, NY, passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2022. He was born on November 24, 1951, in Mount Vernon, NY, to Edward and Marjorie (Fromm) Meltzer. He graduated from Carmel High School in Carmel, NY, in 1970.

Alex alternated living and working in Tucson, AZ, and upstate New York, with stints in Southeast Iowa and Las Vegas. He drove for a living starting with being a driving instructor with his father’s driving school in NY and also included bus driving, starting his own driving school in Southeast Iowa and many years of cab driving in several states. He loved to entertain his family and friends with many colorful cab-driving stories. He had given rides to the band Cheap Trick and Billy Crystal and he once had lunch with Jerry Garcia. While living in Tucson, he met Stella Wahl, his longtime partner, and became a second dad to her children. They also lived in New York, Iowa, and Las Vegas.

Alex enjoyed collecting old bicycles and fixing them up to be usable. He was always willing to lend a hand to help others out. He was funny and smart and always had a story to tell. He was also always inventing things and was convinced that several common items started out as his ideas – such as backpacks and sneakers.

He is survived by a son, Lance (Megan) Madden of Scottsdale, AZ; his grandchildren Molly and Brody Madden; his brother Matthew (Terry) Meltzer of Wappingers Falls, NY; Stella’s children: Brenda Ingwersen (Timothy) Smith of Mt. Pleasant, IA; Bonnie (Shawn) Mears of New London, IA, Thomas Ingwersen of New London, IA; nieces and nephews: Tara Edelschick (Jeff Barneson), Brenda Edelschick, Jennifer Edelschick, Douglas Edelschick, Brian Edelschick (Rachel), Craig Meltzer (Kristen Greene), Michelle Halpern (Mark), and Kristen Rattanamongkhoune (Somprasong).

Alex was preceded in death by his parents; his half-brothers David Edelschick and Daniel Edelschick; and his longtime partner, Stella Wahl.

Alex will be buried near his mother in New York. The families in Iowa and New York will have private memorials in his honor.