Melissa Bigelow

Like many families in Montclair Melissa and her husband decided to leave NYC when they were expecting their second child. They looked forward to having a backyard and a driveway but worried about all the great parts of city living they’d have to give up. They quickly discovered that Montclair had so much more to offer than a patch of green grass and a place to park their car! Montclair is full of terrific restaurants and cultural activities, but it's the community of friends and neighbors they love best. In 1999 they moved to Colorado for a job opportunity and instantly missed life here so much. This area has such a rich variety of things to offer that it's impossible to duplicate and they joyously returned in 2004.


Since then, they have raised their four children here and they have all attended the Montclair public schools. Over the years Melissa has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of capacities within their schools and within the community. She’s worked with the Human Needs Food Pantry and on the board of the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence. She currently serves as an Elder at the Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair (PCUM) and on the Board of the Montclair Scholarship Fund.


Melissa enjoys cooking and hosting family and friends and loves to take a quick ride to spend time at the Jersey shore. With two of her children now grown and living on their own in NYC, she still frequently takes advantage of all it has to offer, but there is such a wonderful array of people and activities right here in Montclair and the neighboring communities that her family never needs to look much further than out their front door.


Melissa attended the University of Virginia and holds a BA in French language and literature and a Master's in education.