Deacon Carlo V. Mellace, 70, for- mer director of the diocesan Italian Apostolate, died Dec. 29, in Calabria, Italy, where he was spending Christmas with his siblings. A funeral Mass followed by his burial took place there on Dec. 31.

Born in Olivadi, Italy, he earned his doc- torate in economics and attained the rank of lieu- tenant in the Italian Army before immigrating to Brooklyn in 1979.

He was ordained to the diaconate April 9, 1988 by Bishop Francis Mugavero. He served the parish of St. Dominic, Bensonhurst, and later SS. Simon and Jude, Gravesend.

Deacon Mellace worked as controller of the Mason Tenders District Council Trust Funds before becoming a compliance auditor for the diocesan Office of Fiscal Management.

He is a past treasurer of Community School Board 20.

In 1990, he received a citation from Brooklyn Borough President Howard J. Golden for his many contributions to Brooklyn’s Italian American community.

He is survived by his wife, Teodolinda, and hisson, Alfredo.

A memorial Mass will be scheduled in the coming weeks.