Timeline

Born in Tallinn, Estonia

Melissa Wells (her name at birth was Militza-Elisabeth Foelsch) is born in Tallinn, Estonia.

The family moves to Germany, where her mother, Miliza Korjus, sings in several opera houses. Her father, Kuno Foelsch, pursues his advanced studies in physics.

The family immigrates to the United States, settling in Los Angeles, where her mother is a star in the Hollywood production The Great Waltz, released in 1938.

The family moves to Mexico, but her father spends much time in Los Angeles.

Melissa and her mother move to New York. Her father remains in Los Angeles.

Melissa and her mother move back to Los Angeles, where her father lives. Her parents divorce.

Melissa enrolls in Mount Saint Mary’s College, Los Angeles.

She works as a show girl in Las Vegas, and then joins the AquaParade synchronized swimming troupe, which tours Europe and then goes bust.

She lives for a year in Milan with an older Italian man who speaks no English.

Melissa enrolls in Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

Melissa joins the US Foreign Service and meets Alfred Washburn Wells shortly afterwards.

Alfred and Melissa get married in Los Angeles. Their first son, Christopher, is born.

The couple divorces. Alfred is posted to London and Melissa, with her son, goes to Trinidad & Tobago.

She buys her first piece of real estate, on the island of Carriacou, Grenada.

Melissa and Alfred resume their relationship.

She works in Paris at the U.S. Mission to the OECD.

She works in London in economic affairs. Her second son, Gregory, is born. Alfred retires from the Foreign Service and begins a career as an architect.

The couple buys an old house in the village of Agulo, Canary Islands, Spain.

The family moves to Washington, DC, where Melissa serves in various assignments.

The family moves to Rio de Janeiro, where Melissa promotes trade between Brazil and the United States.

The White House names Melissa as ambassador to Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde. She moves to Bissau with Alfred and Gregory. Christopher remains in Rio.

The family moves to New York, where Melissa works at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN).

She is appointed UN Resident Representative in Uganda, but due to security concerns, she does not take her family.

The UN establishes the IMPACT program, led by Melissa, headquartered in Geneva.

Named ambassador to Mozambique; she assumes the post in 1987 after a long wait.

She arrives in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) as U.S. ambassador.

She is hired by the United Nations to oversee budget and personnel.

The White House names Melissa as Special Representative to the Sudan. She lives near Harvard University, where she is a fellow.

She becomes Consul General in São Paulo.

She returns to Estonia, her country of birth, as ambassador after 65 years.

She retires on September 11 and moves with Alfred to Agulo, in the Canary Islands.

Alfred passes away.

Melissa moves to Potomac, Maryland, where she lives until she “takes the elevator,” as she used to say, on July 12.