From the obituary of the New York Times, November 9, 2003:

Melik, Soss E., died on October 11, 2003.  Graveside services were held at the Miami Cemetery, Waynesville, Ohio on Friday, October 24, 2003.   Mr. Melik  was born  on August 2, 1914 in Kislovodsk, Russia.

Note: Who's Who in American Art 1940 cites a birth date of  1913.