Carmelo Vázquez, Jr.

Carmelo Vázquez, Jr., affectionately known to his family and friends as "Melo," passed away suddenly on June 2, 2026, at the age of 44.

Melo was born in New Haven, Connecticut on June 27, 1981, a son of Carmelo and Alice (Weeks) Vázquez, Jr. of North Haven.  A lifelong resident of the community, he grew up in New Haven, Connecticut, where he shared a vibrant and loving childhood alongside his parents and siblings. Melo attended Columbus Elementary School and Fair Haven Middle School, later graduating from High School in the Community.

Above all things in life, Melo loved his family fiercely, and his children were his absolute pride and joy. He was a simple, modest man, and a deeply soft-hearted guy—even if he did not always show it to the rest of the world. He spent endless, meaningful time with his girls; it did not matter if they were his biological children or not; in his heart, they were all his daughters. He was the ultimate "girl dad," a title he wore with immense pride. He shared a unique, special bond with his daughters, showing them a tender side that no one else saw. Whenever things felt overwhelming, he was always there to comfort them, saying, "Don't worry, baby, it's okay, we will figure it out." He never let them down and always held them up, even when things seemed impossible.

Melo had a tremendous love for movies, a passion he lovingly instilled in his children. He cherished introducing them to his favorites, creating lasting traditions around films like The Goonies, Tommy Boy, Fever Lake, Uptown Girls, and Big Daddy. Some of his absolute favorite times together were simple but perfect: going out to eat at Chili's, taking trips to Chatfield Hollow, and enjoying his favorite drink, Monster Energy.

Melo always knew exactly the right thing to say to make the whole room laugh, and he truly was the life of the party. His likable, can-do attitude opened doors for him throughout his life, and he was always naturally gifted at driving anything with wheels. He was proudly forklift-certified and a total natural at it, once jokingly boasting, “I could make it roll over and play dead if I wanted to.” A proud Irish with Puerto Rican roots, Melo had a deep appreciation for the history and achievements of those who came before him, and he loved the beautiful country in which he grew up. He also possessed a special love for the outdoors. He cherished holding family cookouts, going hiking, and taking long, spontaneous rides with his kids. People did not just recognize his gentle spirit; even animals loved Melo. There was simply something special about his energy that made cats, dogs, and any animal you could think of gravitate right toward him.

When he was not spending time with his loved ones, Melo could always be found watching sports. An avid fan, his absolute favorite pastime was catching every New England Patriots game and keeping up with basketball. He loved watching his favorite players compete, but no athlete held a candle to his all-time favorite, Tom Brady. Melo's enthusiasm on game days was infectious, and watching the games will not be the same without him.

Melo was predeceased in death by his paternal grandparents, Carmelo and Carmen Vázquez; his maternal grandparents, James and Marie Weeks; and his favorite uncle, Jimmy.

Melo’s legacy of unconditional love will be forever cherished by his beloved wife, Glenda Ruíz, and his two children, Chris and Adrianna, whom he loved the most. He is also survived by his devoted parents, Carmelo and Alice Vázquez of North Haven, CT; his brother, James Wickliff of Davenport, FL, his sister, Lucy Rivera and brother-in-law, Rudy, of North Haven, CT; his sister, Diane Vázquez of Boston, MA; and his sister, Alicea Vázquez, along with a large, loving circle of extended family, friends, and fellow fans who loved him for exactly who he was.

Melo's family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, June 13th from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. Words of comfort will be shared during this time. Burial will be private. washingtonmemorialfh.com

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