In Memoriam: Brother Malcolm Melcher SC

Brother Malcolm Melcher SC, a Brother of the Sacred Heart and a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana since 2010, passed into eternal life at Our Lady of Wisdom Community Healthcare Center in New Orleans on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.   
 
Brother Malcolm was born Gilbert Wayne Melcher, Jr., on Oct. 25, 1941, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to the late Gilbert W. Melcher, Sr., of Manchester, Oklahoma and the late Margaret Mary Abel of Lewistown, Montana. He is survived by his sister, Mary Catherine Melcher Bonds (James) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and several nieces and nephews. He is also preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph, John, and James Melcher.
 Brother Malcolm Melcher SC As a pre-novice, Brother Malcolm entered the formation program for the Brothers of the Sacred Heart on September 12, 1959, in Spring Hill, Alabama.  He became a novice on Aug. 14, 1960, at Metuchen, New Jersey, and he professed first vows there on Aug. 15, 1961. His perpetual profession took place in New Orleans on Sept. 27, 1967, and in 2021 there was a great celebration when Brother Malcolm marked the 60th anniversary of his first profession.
 
Brother Malcolm prepared for his years as a professional, religious educator by earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Spring Hill College and a master’s degree in general science from Oregon State University.  During his years in school ministry, Brother Malcolm thoroughly enjoyed his time in chemistry and religion classrooms at St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu High Schools in New Orleans; at Saint Stanislaus College in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; at McGill Institute and McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile, Alabama; at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge; and at Vandebilt High School in Houma. He worked hard in each locale at cultivating a reputation as and being a prepared, no-nonsense and challenging teacher.  
  
Outside the classroom, students will remember Brother Malcolm’s presence to them as a cross country and track coach, as a football coach and as a tremendous supporter of any of their athletic teams. This die-hard Alabama athletic fan would never pass up an opportunity to offer a realistic assessment of his current students’ or of graduates’ athletic performances. He also never missed an opportunity to offer an encouraging word to them, regardless of the final score, and Brother Malcolm was willing to follow the teams of current students or of alumni great distances to personally witness their competitions at the high school, college or professional level. Faculty members from all over the world express great gratitude for Brother Malcolm’s gift of four test banks filled with thousands of tried-and-true chemistry, religion, moral theology and church history questions that were readily available – free of charge – simply for the asking. And they continue to be after his passing. 
 
 Along with his genealogical work, keeping these test banks current and accurate occupied many of this retired teacher’s hours. Brother Malcolm offered to all, but especially to many a young man, an example of practical wisdom and a model of manly piety, selfless service and a devotion to others that profoundly influenced them for life.
  
 The consummate educator, Brother Malcolm donated his body for the furthering of science. No funeral will be held at this time, however a Memorial Mass and luncheon celebrating Brother Malcolm’s life and ministry will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Our Lady of the Gulf Church, 228 South Beach Blvd., Bay St. Louis, Mississippi 39520.  Brother Malcolm’s cremains will be interred at the Brothers’ cemetery in Bay St. Louis.
 
Donations can be made in Brother Malcolm’s honor to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Foundation, 4600 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA   70122.