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Yildizlar was born on January 8, 1968, in New Haven, Conn., to Richard A Clay and Mary Negley Clay. She attended Pulaski elementary school and Liverpool High School in New York. She also attended Bosphorus University in Istanbul, Turkey, and graduated from Hunter College (NYC) in May 1994 with a Bachelor's degree in English.
Yildizlar resided in Pulaski, N.Y.; Syracuse N.Y.; Istanbul, Turkey; London, England; and Manhattan, before settling in Greenwich in 1997. She led the Yildizlar Education Fund and Connecticut Women Against Gun Violence.
Yildizlar is survived by her husband, Matt; children, Alara Kay Yildizlar and Andrew Melih Yildizlar; mother, Mary Negley Clay of Syracuse N.Y.; sisters, Melissa A Clay (engaged to Tom Towne), Amy Clay Bartolotta (Peter); sister-in-law, Oya Noyan (Necati Tunc Noyan). She was predeceased by her father, Rev. Richard A Clay.
Funeral Service Monday April 1, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church 254 E Putnam Ave Greenwich Conn., burial will follow at St Mary's Putnam Cemetery. Light reception to follow at L'Escale in Greenwich at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Buffalo Foundation, via the following secure website:https://ubfoundation.buffalo.edu/giving/index.php. Donors are encouraged to reference Melanie's name and/or the Yildizlar Education Fund in the box titled "In Honor of / Memory of".
For more information, please visit: www.leopgallaghergreenwich.com
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