Dr. Melanie Ava Gillar was born on October 29, 1953 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The eldest of three girls, she grew up in Woodbridge, New Jersey and was raised by her loving and proud parents Mayor Gillar and Lillian (Breitman) Gillar.

Dr. Gillar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Therapy from the University of Connecticut where she was a member of the Phi Beta Phi fraternity. Always motivated by a lifelong love of learning, she went on to receive a Master of Arts in Applied Physiology from Columbia University and a Doctor in Physical Therapy from the MGH Health Institute of Health Professions.

An expert in her field, Dr. Gillar moved to New York City in 1977 where she served at New York Presbyterian Hospital, formerly New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center for twenty-six years. She held numerous advancing positions starting as a physical therapist, then PT Manager, before her eventual promotion to Assistant Chief of Physical Therapy.

She opened her own private physical therapy practice in 2003 which emphasized her passion and commitment to her patients. Dr. Gillar was a founding member of the New York Physical Therapy Academic Coordinators of Clinical Education Special Interest Group. She was a tireless educator, mentor, and facilitator, making an impact on students who in turn became her colleagues. In recognition of her contributions to the field, she received the Lucy Blair Service Award in 2009 from the American Physical Therapy Association.

In addition to being a role model in her field, Dr. Gillar was an avid supporter of her alma mater, the UConn Huskies. A tennis fan, she was frequently seen at the New York Open. She enjoyed watching the annual Kennedy Center Honors, traveling to new cities, and reading The New York Times while relaxing in her favorite chair. She loved the month of October because it included three family birthday celebrations. Melanie enjoyed hosting Pesach seder at her apartment, gathering together with friends and family, and was particularly famous for her brisket recipe.

Melanie was a beautiful person who shared her mother Lillian's smile and sparkling eyes, and her father Mayor's kind personality and sense of humor. Melanie will be remembered foremost as a loving sister and friend to Marilyn Gaber and husband Wayne Gaber of Somerset, NJ, and Lesley Newman and husband Jeff Newman of Bethlehem, PA. A kind and doting aunt to three, she was never without words of wisdom or a souvenir gift from her travels. She was incredibly proud of her niece Melissa Gaber, with whom she shared lunch dates in the City, and nephews Jay Newman and Mark Newman, who visited her frequently to sightsee and enjoy Chinese takeout together. Melanie is lovingly remembered by her lifelong friends Ross Cooper, Janet Cooper Weiss, and Anita and Dan Garaffa and their children Stephanie, Amy, Daniel, and David.

A graveside service was held on Thursday August 20, 2020 at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Melanie's memory can be made to the Marilyn Moffat Fund for Geriatric Research. May her soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life. ת נ צ ב ה.