Rev. Carl J. "Buster" Melchior Jr.

of Tampa, passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 30, 2022. Father Melchior most recently served as Priest Secretary to Most Reverend Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. Father Melchior also most recently served as Chaplain to St. Petersburg Catholic High School, focusing on Catholic faith formation. Father Melchior, who went by “Father Carl” following his ordination, and “Buster” to his family members and childhood friends, was born in Tampa to Carl and Catherine Melchior on March 22, 1963. He was a graduate of Christ the King Catholic School, attended Jesuit High School for one year, and graduated from H.B. Plant High School.

Prior to the priesthood, Father Carl was the Assistant Equipment Manager for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for eight years. He later worked in the field of sports medicine. He was known for having a love for all things football, particularly the Gators and the Bucs. After discerning a vocation to the priesthood in 2001, Father Carl attended and graduated from St. John Vianney College Seminary, Miami, and St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Petersburg by Most Reverend Bishop Robert N. Lynch (now retired) in 2009.

After ordination, Father Carl served as Parochial Vicar of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Clearwater, and later served as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Father Carl participated with Bishops Lynch and Parkes in hundreds of First Communion, Confirmation and other services in the Tampa Bay area. He was known and loved by many for his gentle counsel and for entertaining and engaging conversation. He was adept at making new as well as having lifelong friends and finding common ground for conversation with all he encountered, often leading to his favorite topics of football, fishing, current events, World War II history, western movies and the history of Tampa.

Father Carl was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his brother, Greg (Vonda) Melchior, his sister, Lea Melchior, and nieces (Haynes and Elle Melchior, and Catherine Glaser-Carnley), and grand-nieces and grand-nephews (Lena, Caine, Philip, and Vivian Carnley).

Funeral services will take place at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by a Wake service at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 5233 118th Avenue N., Clearwater. Livestream coverage of the Funeral Mass may be viewed on the Christ the King Parish website at the following link: https://ctk-tampa.org/news/livespecial/.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Office of Vocations for the Diocese of St. Petersburg or to the St. Petersburg Catholic High School Athletic Department.