Melanie was born in Sacramento to John and Shirley Mayer. The family moved around the state before settling in the Prunedale area where Melanie showed lambs and rabbits in 4H and excelled on the high school swim team.  Her enthusiasm and determination started at the age of eight when she decided that she wanted to be a Marine Biologist.  This was only one of many goals she would achieve.

After graduating from Salinas High in 1978, Melanie earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology from San Jose State University in 1982 and her Masters Degree in Marine Science from Moss Landing Marine Lab in 1987.  She set up the first education programs at the Elkhorn Slough reserve for training teachers and volunteers.  She was one of the first women in management at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (formerly Department of Fish and Game) where some of her favorite projects were developing wilderness areas and restoring wetland habitats.  She then went on to start her own business, Melanie Mayer Consulting.  She was proud to be a key player in rebuilding her alma mater, Moss Landing Marine Labs, after the Loma Prieta earthquake. 

Melanie met her husband Yohn while he was stationed in the Navy at Moffet Field.  Yohn shared Melanie’s love for the ocean and they took many diving trips including to Australia and the Caribbean.  He proposed while they were scuba diving in Cabo San Lucas and they were married in 1994.  That same year they started the Elkhorn Slough Safari.  With help from family and friends, they resurrected the old Pacific Steamship building and created the Captain’s Inn Bed and Breakfast at Moss Landing.  The Inn opened in May 2003 and twins Hans and Haylee arrived in July 2003.

Melanie’s life revolved around her family and the Inn.  She was a great mom and her family always came first.  Together they enjoyed camping, fishing trips, going to the beach, tide pooling, birding, biking, and hiking at local and national parks.  She also enjoyed dancing, playing cards, crafts, and gardening.  Melanie was an enthusiastic supporter of Hans’ and Haylee’s sports activities as well as volunteering in their classrooms.  Education was very important to Melanie, and college for the kids was one of her goals.  She was a great teacher and organizer and an excellent cook.  Her cookbook, “Cooking for the Captain” is a bestseller at the Inn.

Melanie loved the color BLUE and holidays.  She especially enjoyed the Fourth of July and one year she and Yohn went to 4 different fireworks shows.  She also loved Halloween, dressing up with the kids, and pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!  Christmas was also a favorite time, and she enjoyed decorating, making pies, and collecting special ornaments with Yohn and the kids.

Melanie was an important member of the Central Coast community.  She served as President of the Moss Landing Chamber of Commerce and as Chair of the Regional Water Quality Control Board.  She was voted Moss Landing Citizen of the Year in 1997 and in 2002 and 2007 the Captain’s Inn was voted Moss Landing Business of the Year.  She was a lifetime member of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation and continued to support Moss Landing Marine Labs.  She volunteered and made sure the kids were involved in church.

Melanie had a gift for making people feel special.  We will always have fond memories of her big smile and even bigger laugh, her love, enthusiasm and dedication to her family and her community.

A public celebration of Melanie’s life will be held on March 17, 2013 at 1:00 pm at Moss Landing Marine Labs in Moss Landing, CA.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the kids' college fund. 

Make checks payable to Hans and Haylee Gideon, memo Melanie Gideon memorial, send to P.O. Box 570, Moss Landing, CA 95039.