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| The Rev. Carl L. Christensen |
Obituary |
LYME (08/23/2012) -- The Rev. Carl L. Christensen, who retired from his ministry with the Ivoryton Congregational Church UCC just this June, died at his home on Tuesday, August 21, surrounded by his family. He was 76.
Born in New Haven on August 31, 1935, the son of the late Lawrence and Elizabeth (Smith) Christensen, he graduated from the Morgan School in 1953. He earned a B.A. from Trinity College and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, and was called by the Ivoryton church for his first parish in 1959. He led the Elmwood Community Church UCC in West Hartford and the First Congregational Church UCC of Waterbury through the mid-1970s.
At that time, he launched Carl Christensen Associates, a management consulting firm whose clients included Cadbury-Schwepps, Coca-Cola, The Hartford, Ocean Spray, and Proctor and Gamble. Retiring from this ministry to business and industry in 2005, he followed a renewed call to service in the Church, and in 2007 was summoned back to the very church where he had first pastored.
In addition to his wife, Paula Perlini of Lyme and New York City, Carl is survived by his children Karen Cotner of Waterbury; Eric Christensen of Shelton; Wendy Christensen of West Palm Beach, Florida; his grandchildren Eric Cotner, Julie Christensen, and Victoria Jelenik; his sister Betty Ann Comstock of Centerbrook; and his brother Peder Christensen of Oldsmar, Florida.
A celebration of Carl's life will take place at his beloved Meadow Brook Farm, 69 Beaver Brook Rd., Lyme on Saturday, Sept. 15th, at 3:00 pm. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.
To leave a condolence for Carl's family or for more information please visit rwwfh.com. Arrangements by Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook.
