Reverend Bayard Collier Carmiencke

                                       The Life and Biography of
                             The Rev.  Bayard Collier Carmiencke JR.

                                                   Best Known As

                                                    “Father Col”

Bayard Collier Carmiencke Jr. was born on the 26th of May, 1933 at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.   He was the eldest son of Bayard Collier Thompson Carmiencke Sr. and his wife Frances Catherine Ellison Beverly.  Fr. Col later became the big brother to David Ellison Carmiencke, who was born on July 6th1939.   Fr. Col’s father, Bayard Collier Sr., passed away in 1957 at the age of 52 when Col was only 24 and his brother David was only 18.

Collier originally resided in Brooklyn with his family, and during his childhood years, they moved to Hollis, Queens, and then to Floral Park, Queens.  It was here that “Collier Little”, as he was known then, began his love affair with baseball.  His favorite team was the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Collier was heartbroken in 1951 when Bobby Thompson hit the “Shot heard ‘round the World” and the N.Y. Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.  However, Col finally got his wish in 1955 when the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the NY Yankees in the World Series.  Fr. Col’s family eventually moved to Baldwin, Long Island, when he was a teenager, where he attended Baldwin, H.S.  It was during this time that he first studied art and discovered his innate talent for drawing. He graduated from Baldwin High School in June of 1951.

After high school, Father Col’s first job was at the Doubleday Company in Garden City, and he also attended the Art Career School at the Flat Iron Building Penthouse in Manhattan, N.Y.   He later worked for the U.S. Vitamin Corporation in 1952, working in their art department, where he made layouts for bottle labels.

During the Korean conflict, Father Col was drafted into the U.S. Army in April of 1953.  He served in the Military for 2 years.  During that time, he was trained as an information and education NCO.  He attended Info. & Educ. School at Fort Slocum, N.Y.   Where he also trained as an S-2 at the Battalion level.  He was then transferred to Fort Dix, N.J. for eventual release and while there, he painted a 40 ft. oil painting depicting the evolution of the U.S. Army uniform from the Revolutionary War through The Korean conflict. He was Honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in March of 1955. 

After his discharge from the Army, he worked driving taxi cabs in Baldwin. N.Y.  and drove a truck for Brass Rail Restaurant at Jones Beach, L.I.   Father Col then enrolled in college in the Fall of 1955 and was accepted to attend the University of Hofstra on L.I.. After 4 years at Hofstra University, he completed his Bachelor’s degree, graduating in June of 1959.  While attending Hofstra University and working at Jones Beach L.I. during summer break he first met the “love of his life” and future wife, Susan Constance Healey of Sayville L.I.. 
Sometime around 1959, Col and Susan were engaged to be married.  The following year, they “tied the knot” on August 20, 1960, at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Sayville, N.Y.

Also in 1959 Father Col received his “calling” to become a Priest and serve in the ministry of the Episcopal church.  So in 1960, with the support of his fiancé Susan, he was accepted to and began attending The Philadelphia Divinity Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.   In May of 1962, Fr. Col graduated as president of his class and received the honorary award of “Voice”.  After graduating from the Seminary Fr. Col received his first position in the ministry in Baltimore, MD where Fr. Col became a Curate at Grace and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church located at Park and Monuments Streets.  Fr. Col served as the Parochial Monsignor to the Chinese parishioners.  It was there in Baltimore, MD at Memorial Hospital in 1963 that his eldest son, Bayard Collier III or “B.C.” was born. 

After two years in Baltimore, Fr. Col was offered his first opportunity to become the Rector of his own parish at St. James Episcopal Church in Westernport, MD. Fr. Col served as the Rector at St. James from March 1964 to November of 1966 and while serving there in 1965, Sue and Col’s youngest son Leonard Holmes or “Len” was born. 

It was then in November of 1966 that Fr. Col received the opportunity to become the Priest in charge of Christ and St. Ambrose’s Episcopal Church, located at 6thand Venago streets in N. Philadelphia.  So, the family relocated to the Rectory on N. 6th Street where Fr. Col, became the Rector of the parish, until the Fall of 1968.  It was at that time that Fr. Col and Sue were offered an opportunity to return to Long Island where they both grew up.  Fr. Col became the Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Bellerose Village, Nassau County, N.Y.  on November 15, 1968.   This is where his two sons “B.C.” and Len spent their formidable years growing up. It was shortly after Fr. Col had moved the family to Bellerose Village, that in 1969, the Mets won their 1st World Series and Fr. Col’s love affair with the N.Y. Mets took hold.  He instilled his fandom for the Mets and his love of baseball into both his sons. It was also at this time when Fr. Col taught and instilled his love for the game of chess in both his sons.  Fr. Col.  was the Rector at St. Thomas for 11 years from 1968 to January of 1980.  During those years Fr. Col earned his 2ndmaster’s degree in Theology at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. 

After leaving his position at St. Thomas, Bellerose Village, Fr. Col served as interim Rector at the Church of the Redeemer in Merrick, N.Y.  for 9 months from January of 1980 until November of 1980.  It was at that time that Fr. Col was offered the position of and then appointed Vicar of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Bohemia, N.Y.  Fr. Col and Sue resided at the St. Luke’s Vicarage from November of 1980 until Fr. Col’s retirement in 1995. Both Fr Col’s sons graduated from Connetquot H.S. in Bohemia, “B.C.” in 1981 and then Len in 1983.

It was also in 1995 that Fr. Col  became a grandfather, when Bayard Carmine Carmiencke was born on the same day as Col & Sue’s 35th Wedding Anniversary, to Col’s eldest son “B.C.” and his wife Debbie who were married in March of 1992.  It was also in 1995 when Fr. Col and Sue were offered the opportunity to purchase the St. Luke’s Vicarage located at 1145 Walnut Avenue in Bohemia, where Fr. Col and Sue finally became first time homeowners.  This is where Fr. Col lived until his passing on June 18, 2025.  Fr. Col lived in Bohemia for 45 years and was a large contributor to the community.   He participated in various activities and hobbies while residing in Bohemia.  Some of them included competing in bowling leagues, singing in karaoke gatherings.  He also enjoyed performing in community theaters as a local actor and he also performed and sang in Barber Shop Quartets. He also continued to practice his natural talent as an artist and illustrator. He also enjoyed writing many fiction stories.  Even after retirement from the priesthood he remained active in the Episcopal church where Col and Sue often attended services at St. Mary’s church in Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.  

Col and Sue also loved traveling in retirement.  They visited the Southwestern United States and enjoyed going on various ship cruises. Unfortunately, though in 2010 Fr. Col lost “the love of his life” when Susan, who was almost 78, passed away in her sleep on the 23rd of May. It was difficult at first adjusting to life without his spouse after 50 years of marriage but eventually “Grandpa”, as we affectionately called him, learned to carry on in Susan’s absence. He continued to participate in his many hobbies and was active in the community.  Eventually, though time and his health started to catch up with him, he had to stay home a lot more than he wished under the care of his youngest son Len.  He still maintained his love for his family and especially his only grandchild Bayard. Let’s not forget his passion for his beloved Mets, especially last year in 2024 when they made it all the way to NLCS against his childhood team, the Dodgers, who broke his heart all those years ago when they left Brooklyn to relocate to California.  It is with a heavy heart, but joy for his eternal spirit, that we announce that “Grandpa”/ ”Fr, Col” on June 18th 2025 passed away to join our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Mansion that his Father in Paradise has prepared for him.  We will remember him with love in our hearts.  Fr. Col is survived by his two sons, Bayard Collier lll, 62, and Leonard Holmes, 60,  his daughter-in-law Debra Jean Romanello Carmiencke, 62, his grandson Bayard Carmine, 29, as well as his only Brother David Ellison, 86, and David’s wife Susan Cesarano Carmiencke, 84, his step sister Linda Engstrom Doublestein, 74, and his nephews, David Ellison Jr., 64, and Donald Ellison, 57.

Visitation- Wednesday June 25, 2025 from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. at our West Sayville Funeral Home, 245 Main St.

Church Service- Thursday June 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Lake Ronkonkoma

Interment- St. Ann's Cemetery, Sayville