The Melissa Jane Nicandri Foundation was created to honor the life, legacy, and light of Melissa Jane Nicandri, whose time with us was tragically cut short on January 29, 2025, in the Washington, D.C. plane crash. Though her passing was sudden, her impact on her family and friends remains profound and enduring.
Melissa lived her life with heart, humor, and a quiet strength. Her
name—Melissa—comes from Greek mythology and means honey bee. and she truly embodied the spirit of the honey bee: purposeful, resilient, and deeply connected to others around her. Whether supporting family and friends, excelling at her work, or simply sharing a smile, Melissa left things better than she found them.
In her memory, her family and friends hope to carry forward her kindness, warmth and compassion through initiatives that uplift others, empower youth, and serve the communities she loved. Guided by the symbol of the hive—where every contribution strengthens the whole—we want to continue the work Melissa inspired in everyone.