"We will miss Father Carl, his loss felt by many. He touched our hearts years ago at All Saints when our daughter was at ASEDS. His messages of inclusion and compassion were heard well before those words became popular. He buried my Mom and married our daughter, he will always hold a place in my heart, I look forward to meeting up with him again in heaven. Our condolences to Father Carl's loved ones."
In loving memory of
The Rev. Canon
Father Carl Carlozzi passed away on October 1, 2017 after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He was the Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church and Day School from 1980 until 2002, and the Chaplain of the Phoenix Fire Department for over 20 years; first as a volunteer and later full-time. He was a member of FEMA Urban Search & Rescue, Phoenix Fire Task Force, and was on scene at both the Oklahoma City bombing and the World Trade Center. He performed the last rites of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters who died in the 2013 wildfire in Yarnell. He authored over 10 books, including Fire Department Religion - A Hopeful Story about Religious Equality and Being Nice! Father Carl was born in Canton, OH in 1940. He graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier, OH in 1962. He received his Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA in 1965 and his Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary in 1977. In 1999, he received the "Hon Kachina Award" from the Luke's Men and ABC 15 for Outstanding Volunteerism in Arizona. He has touched many lives with his inclusive ministry of treating all people with dignity and respect. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Muriel McClellan; four children Doug (Carol) Carlozzi, Brett Carlozzi, Chandra Carlozzi, Kendra Carlozzi Smiley and her daughter, Tatum; three stepchildren Matthew (Christina) McClellan, Dr. John (Dr. Erin) McClellan, and Dr. Mimi (Kathleen) McClellan; and six grandchildren. Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday October 7, 2017 at Christ Church of the Ascension, 4015 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley, AZ. Memorial donations may be made to the Rector's Discretionary Fund, Christ Church of the Ascension. Visit https://hansenmortuary.wpengine.com for condolences.
Tributes
"My husband, the Rev. Kenneth E. Roush, died on October 1, 2007 of esophageal cancer. On October 1st, 2017 I had just returned from placing flowers on Ken's grave on the tenth anniversary of his death when I turned on the Phoenix news and learned of Fr. Carl's passing. The news came as an emotional blow and my heart was broken! I began to meditate on the similarities of our lives. I formerly worked for the Phoenix Fire Department and, many years ago, Ken was vicar of an Episcopal church in Las Vegas, a church not far from the recent massacre. During Ken's tenure, he was also the Las Vegas Strip and casino chaplain where, like Fr. Carl, he counseled many souls who were in need of comfort, guidance, and encouragement. I couldn't help but wonder if our Lord pre-positioned Fr. Carl and Fr. Ken at the gates of eternity on October 1st, 2017 to welcome and console the victims of the tragic Las Vegas massacre. God works in mysterious ways! My thoughts and prayers are with you and with Fr. Carl. I will remember him always on October 1st as I commemorate the passing of my own beloved husband. May Fr. Carl's memory be eternal!"
"Father Carl was not only a strong spiritual fixture in our household but a very dear friend. He officiated all weddings, confirmations and my father's last rights. He has always been there for us. He will be sorely missed!"
"We had a really bad call on E150 several years ago. Long before our GLENDALE Chaplain (sorry RAUL) or the CR vans. Carl responded to our scene with one call, and spent literally hours with a young boy and his mom. The call has haunted me all these years. The memory of Carl?s actions for the family has made it tolerable. Rest In Peace."
"My deepest sympathies to the family. I knew him from All Saints; he officiated at my brother's service; I worked with him at the Phoenix Fire Department; and I met Muriel and Noel while working there, too. However, I know he with God in heaven and all of us who knew him will miss him very, very much. My prayers are with the family."
"I'll miss Carl, while he was at All Saints I asked him to officiate at a wedding for two people with disabilities when others wouldn't...no problem! Once when our choir was rehearsing "a balm in Gilead" he mused, "you know there really might be a bomb in Gilead". He brought us Rabbi Plotkin and Dr. Warren Stewart and wholly welcomed the Sudanese refugees when they began to show up amongst us. Carl obviously was a Godly instrument on this planet and exercised his faith on the ground where it counts. I'm so pleased to have known him. He truly was the firemen's pastor and friend, we should all be so lucky to fulfill our calling."
"It took a very unique individual to serve as a replacement for Father Paul Urbano at All Saints. Father Carl was such a man. Although he understood what a rare opportunity coming to All Saints was for him and his young family, he was under no illusions about the challenges he would face coming from a small parish in Chatham, Mass. to a large and diverse parish with a rapidly growing school in Phoenix. Through a rare combination of thoughtful sensitivity, intellectual prowess, mental toughness, and supreme faith in his partnership with the Holy Spirit, Father Carl skillfully navigated the waters of change in this great parish and 'herded the cats' toward the common goal of unifying the diverse interests of a growing parish in a time of rapid social change toward becoming a force for positive spiritual and intellectual leadership in our community. He embraced Father Paul's vision of a parish school while maintaining the focus of the spiritual health and development of all the stakeholders at All Saints, always with a sense of good humor, respect, and good will toward those within and on the periphery of the All Saints community. He was chosen by the Holy Spirit to serve us and all who were touched by his presence were the benefactors of this grace. Father Carl, Requisite in Pache."
"I was so sorry to hear of Carl's passing and your loss. He was absolutely a man who was loved by so many and most uniquely by you. He leaves a whole to fill in so many hearts, most distinctly in yours. May everyone's love of Carl help to fill that void through this difficult time. My prayers are with you."