Contributions to the tribute of Carl L. Christensen

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Peder Christensen - Oldsmar, FL - brother posted a condolence

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A TRIBUTE TO MY OLDER BROTHER Rev. Carl L. Christensen I opened my eyes and at the same time the buzzer on the alarm clock started ringing in my ear. It was 4:45 am. It was time to get up and get ready for the trip to Connecticut. My wife Pat and I scurried around the room at the Marriott Hotel at Tampa Airport where we stayed the past night in order to make it easier to make the early morning flight. Thankfully, the flight to Atlanta with connecting flight to Bradley Hartford was uneventful and it was truly a pleasure to walk into the airport and outside and breathe the crisp cool air as Connecticut begins its Fall show. We picked up our rental car and started the drive to Lyme where my brother, Carl Christensen's life would be celebrated with family and friends. As we drove up along the Connecticut River, with the Sun shining thru the windows my thoughts went back to when I first remembered my brother. Carl was ten years older than me and so there are only a few highlights that I remember during his high school life. I do remember that Carl took with him everyday a full quart bottle of milk. We all remember the milk man and the quart bottles of milk with the cream on the top that use to be delivered to the home and placed in a gray steel box. I thought that was pretty hot stuff that my brother drank a whole quart of milk every day at school. What a great place to live. Right on the town green, down the hill from the Clinton Congregational Church and across the street from the volunteer fire department. Our backyard was bordered by the New Haven Railroad track that ran from Boston to NY and on the other side of the track was the cemetery. Never a dull moment in our neighborhood, funerals, fires and weddings!! But the best time of the year was the summer. My brother hung out and worked at the Clinton Summer Playhouse that was located in the town hall right across from our house and next to the firehouse. Carl created and built all the sets and backgrounds for the productions that made the town a meeting place for people from the surrounding towns. Working at the theater was Carl's first love and he was quite a carpenter at an early age. I directly benefited from his skills and connections by securing roles in two of the plays that ran at the theater. Carl was so good at what he did he landed the top job of set production and design at the prestigious Westport Summer Theater. He loved it and they loved him. But Carl also had another love and calling and that was the ministry. After graduating from Trinity College, Carl attended Yale Divinity School in New Haven. Gosh, I finally realized my brother was going to be a minister! That meant no more swearing, no more fooling around and I needed to be on my best behavior when he was around. All three, were very difficult for me. And he wasn't going to be that far away. He became minister at the Ivoryton Congregational Church. Wow! That was big in my mine, but it would be even bigger once I heard him preach. Carl had a way with bringing the bible to life with taking everyday experiences and folding the meaningful passages into everyone's daily life. As I sat there listening I was in awe and believed that I was truly in the presence of a divine person. Yes, my brother. Who was he? He was my idol!!! Funny, he could really see right thru me and I felt he especially knew all the bad things I had done. One example I will never forget, was when I was in my first year of high school. We had moved to a new house at Beach Park in Clinton, and I was home alone on a very beautiful fall day. I had secretly taken a few Chesterfield cigarettes from my father's pack the night before and hid them in my room. Now was the time to smoke since my father wouldn't be home from work for a few more hours and I was home alone. As I walked around the living room pretending that I was the Marlboro Man, I noticed something flash by the porch window. Yikes, that scared the hell out of me! Who could it be? I quickly ran to the bathroom and as I flushed the toilet the back door opened and Carl appeared in the doorway. It was like seeing God himself! He said what are you doing? I said with a sheepish smile, nothing. And then I was slammed with the most scaring statement I have ever heard from him. Don't give me that shit, you were smoking!!! That was the first time I ever heard Carl swear. I knew at 14, I was definitely going to Hell!! Carl married his high school sweetheart and settled into life in Ivoryton. Before I knew anything about taking care of kids, I was babysitting for Karen, the oldest, Eric and the youngest Wendy. Those were great times. The kids were fun, I enjoyed the new authority and my brother at the time, was my Tim Tebow. As Carl grew in his new calling, other people took notice and it wasn't long before he was given the opportunity to head up the very large Congregation in Waterbury Connecticut. This was a real challenge and opportunity which opened the door to working and counseling with the church members. Carl didn't realize it at the time but as he grew in the counseling of his members, it opened doors to others outside of the church. His skill in working with people and bringing out the hidden potential of each, created his new vision and direction in offering productivity training to the corporate world. Carl Christensen Associates worked with many big companies, such as McGraw-Hill, Entenmanns Bakery, Cadbury and many others. Carl was a pioneer in team building which he held in the field and in the classroom where tasks and obstacles could only be solved by teams working together. This resulted in a more productivity in each of the corporations he worked with. His name spread rapidly thru corporate channels which positioned him as a leader in productivity training. As I looked at this figure lying in the hospital bed it was hard to believe it was my brother. Unlike me, here was a guy that was trim, never smoked, I can't ever remember him having a drink and yet, he had a massive heart attack and no one gave him a chance to live. Six months later he was back at Meadow Brook Farm slowly walking the property with his dogs. Carl of course never returned to his strength after the heart attack but he fought hard and jumped many hurtles and never let the setbacks steal his willing to live. He became a symbol for others. With just 20% of his heart functioning, Carl's energy level for life, and love of celebrating the holidays with family and friends, particularly those huge events in the summer time under the tents at Meadow Brook, will never be forgotten. These were special times, ones that he would remember until the final day. A return to the ministry would be his final act, and how ironic, his return as minister of Ivoryton Congregation Church. Those that listened to him on Sunday mornings realized he hadn't lost that gift of delivering God's word. I parked the car just down the road, at our friend's house. Unfortunately, they were out of town, on vacation that had been planned months before. As Pat and I walked up the road, I heard a voice, Peder, Uncle Peder!!! It was my niece Laurie. It was so good to see her, my sister Betty Ann, her husband Bruce, their two boys Todd and Mark, my cousin June and cousin Ann Dorothy. And then my boys appeared, Peder and Ryan who flew up from Tampa a few days before. Carl's kids, first wife and step kids all attended the ceremony. Carl's family was there for him. As we said goodbye I still didn't understand why Carl's kids weren't introduced to the more than 200 people in attendance. My sister Betty Ann and I were also not mentioned, which I thought was unfortunate, because Carl's family for 77 years had no interaction with most of the friends that came to pay their respects. The service celebrated the last 10 years of Carl's life. This tribute celebrates the rest of his life. My brother was a great man who served the community. I love you Carl. Peder A. Christensen

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Peder A. Christensen - Oldsmar, FL - brother posted a condolence

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A TRIBUTE TO MY OLDER BROTHER Rev. Carl L. Christensen I opened my eyes and at the same time the buzzer on the alarm clock started ringing in my ear. It was 4:45 am. It was time to get up and get ready for the trip to Connecticut. My wife Pat and I scurried around the room at the Marriott Hotel at Tampa Airport where we stayed the past night in order to make it easier to make the early morning flight. Thankfully, the flight to Atlanta with connecting flight to Bradley Hartford was uneventful and it was truly a pleasure to walk into the airport and outside and breathe the crisp cool air as Connecticut begins its Fall show. We picked up our rental car and started the drive to Lyme where my brother, Carl Christensen's life would be celebrated with family and friends. As we drove up along the Connecticut River, with the Sun shining thru the windows my thoughts went back to when I first remembered my brother. Carl was ten years older than me and so there are only a few highlights that I remember during his high school life. I do remember that Carl took with him everyday a full quart bottle of milk. We all remember the milk man and the quart bottles of milk with the cream on the top that use to be delivered to the home and placed in a gray steel box. I thought that was pretty hot stuff that my brother drank a whole quart of milk every day at school. What a great place to live. Right on the town green, down the hill from the Clinton Congregational Church and across the street from the volunteer fire department. Our backyard was bordered by the New Haven Railroad track that ran from Boston to NY and on the other side of the track was the cemetery. Never a dull moment in our neighborhood, funerals, fires and weddings!! But the best time of the year was the summer. My brother hung out and worked at the Clinton Summer Playhouse that was located in the town hall right across from our house and next to the firehouse. Carl created and built all the sets and backgrounds for the productions that made the town a meeting place for people from the surrounding towns. Working at the theater was Carl's first love and he was quite a carpenter at an early age. I directly benefited from his skills and connections by securing roles in two of the plays that ran at the theater. Carl was so good at what he did he landed the top job of set production and design at the prestigious Westport Summer Theater. He loved it and they loved him. But Carl also had another love and calling and that was the ministry. After graduating from Trinity College, Carl attended Yale Divinity School in New Haven. Gosh, I finally realized my brother was going to be a minister! That meant no more swearing, no more fooling around and I needed to be on my best behavior when he was around. All three, were very difficult for me. And he wasn't going to be that far away. He became minister at the Ivoryton Congregational Church. Wow! That was big in my mine, but it would be even bigger once I heard him preach. Carl had a way with bringing the bible to life with taking everyday experiences and folding the meaningful passages into everyone's daily life. As I sat there listening I was in awe and believed that I was truly in the presence of a divine person. Yes, my brother. Who was he? He was my idol!!! Funny, he could really see right thru me and I felt he especially knew all the bad things I had done. One example I will never forget, was when I was in my first year of high school. We had moved to a new house at Beach Park in Clinton, and I was home alone on a very beautiful fall day. I had secretly taken a few Chesterfield cigarettes from my father's pack the night before and hid them in my room. Now was the time to smoke since my father wouldn't be home from work for a few more hours and I was home alone. As I walked around the living room pretending that I was the Marlboro Man, I noticed something flash by the porch window. Yikes, that scared the hell out of me! Who could it be? I quickly ran to the bathroom and as I flushed the toilet the back door opened and Carl appeared in the doorway. It was like seeing God himself! He said what are you doing? I said with a sheepish smile, nothing. And then I was slammed with the most scaring statement I have ever heard from him. Don't give me that shit, you were smoking!!! That was the first time I ever heard Carl swear. I knew at 14, I was definitely going to Hell!! Carl married his high school sweetheart and settled into life in Ivoryton. Before I knew anything about taking care of kids, I was babysitting for Karen, the oldest, Eric and the youngest Wendy. Those were great times. The kids were fun, I enjoyed the new authority and my brother at the time, was my Tim Tebow. As Carl grew in his new calling, other people took notice and it wasn't long before he was given the opportunity to head up the very large Congregation in Waterbury Connecticut. This was a real challenge and opportunity which opened the door to working and counseling with the church members. Carl didn't realize it at the time but as he grew in the counseling of his members, it opened doors to others outside of the church. His skill in working with people and bringing out the hidden potential of each, created his new vision and direction in offering productivity training to the corporate world. Carl Christensen Associates worked with many big companies, such as McGraw-Hill, Entenmanns Bakery, Cadbury and many others. Carl was a pioneer in team building which he held in the field and in the classroom where tasks and obstacles could only be solved by teams working together. This resulted in a more productivity in each of the corporations he worked with. His name spread rapidly thru corporate channels which positioned him as a leader in productivity training. As I looked at this figure lying in the hospital bed it was hard to believe it was my brother. Unlike me, here was a guy that was trim, never smoked, I can't ever remember him having a drink and yet, he had a massive heart attack and no one gave him a chance to live. Six months later he was back at Meadow Brook Farm slowly walking the property with his dogs. Carl of course never returned to his strength after the heart attack but he fought hard and jumped many hurtles and never let the setbacks steal his willing to live. He became a symbol for others. With just 20% of his heart functioning, Carl's energy level for life, and love of celebrating the holidays with family and friends, particularly those huge events in the summer time under the tents at Meadow Brook, will never be forgotten. These were special times, ones that he would remember until the final day. A return to the ministry would be his final act, and how ironic, his return as minister of Ivoryton Congregation Church. Those that listened to him on Sunday mornings realized he hadn't lost that gift of delivering God's word. I parked the car just down the road, at our friend's house. Unfortunately, they were out of town, on vacation that had been planned months before. As Pat and I walked up the road, I heard a voice, Peder, Uncle Peder!!! It was my niece Laurie. It was so good to see her, my sister Betty Ann, her husband Bruce, their two boys Todd and Mark, my cousin June and cousin Ann Dorothy. And then my boys appeared, Peder and Ryan who flew up from Tampa a few days before. Carl's kids, first wife and step kids all attended the ceremony. Carl's family was there for him. As we said goodbye I still didn't understand why Carl's kids weren't introduced to the more than 200 people in attendance. My sister Betty Ann and I were also not mentioned, which I thought was unfortunate, because Carl's family for 77 years had no interaction with most of the friends that came to pay their respects. The service celebrated the last 10 years of Carl's life. This tribute celebrates the rest of his life. My brother was a great man who served the community. I love you Carl. Peder A. Christensen

M

Melissa Cavrell - Carl's PT posted a condolence

Monday, September 3, 2012

Paula, I am so thankful to have met Carl. He and I had some wonderful conversations and I enjoyed hearing of his life experiences. I think of him often. My prayers are for you and your family.

B

Brand and Donna Sisk - Lyme, CT - Neighbor posted a condolence

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Paula, our lives are brighter and fuller having known you and Carl. Carl was a good neighbor-thoughtful, warm, sharing, inspiring and intelligent and will be missed by Donna and I. Please accept our deepest sympathy. Carl will always be in our thoughts and memories. Brand and Donna Sisk, Lyme Ct

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ELIZABETH ROSE - NEWINTON, CT - PRIOR CHURCH WEDDING posted a condolence

Saturday, August 25, 2012

SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, REV CARL L CHRISTIAN MARRIED MY HUSBAND DON + I MAY 4TH 1974 IN WATHERBURY CT.

A

Ann Crites Outka - Lyme, CT - colleague; neighbor posted a condolence

Friday, August 24, 2012

While I did not know Carl well, he and I shared the vocation of ministry in the Congregational tradition, and he was a wonderful neighbor, 2 miles down Beaver Brook Road, at the time (2007) when my late husband Stephen was terminally ill with cancer. Carl frequently stopped with bouquets of flowers and to offer any assistance he might be able to give. Given his own poor health, I was always very moved by his thoughtfulness. With deepest sympathy to Carl's family, Ann Crites Outka

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Rev. Lois Happe - Regional Conference Minister posted a condolence

Friday, August 24, 2012

The thoughts and prayers of the wider church family, the Connecticut Conference, UCC as well as the New Haven East Consociation, are with you through this time of sorrow. We share with you in celebrating Carl's life, his ministry, his devotion. May God's Spirit sustain and comfort you.

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Diane Stevens - Old Lyme, CT - friend posted a condolence

Friday, August 24, 2012

Paula, was so very sorry to hear of Carl's passing. My sympathies to you and the family Diane

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CharleneChenel - Brooksville, FL posted a condolence

Friday, August 24, 2012

Carl was my pastor at Elmwood Community Church and it is where I made my confirmation. I still have my "I Believe" from 50 years ago with Carl's thoughts on it. I have never forgotten him and send my sincere sympathy to his family. He is now Home.

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Don & Alberta Morrison - Chlton, MA - Friend posted a condolence

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Carl was a fine man and a good friend. His ministry to our family was valuable and lasting. Our friendship goes back to 1952 when we were all young. May he rest in peace. Bert & Don

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Mary Taylor - Niantic, CT - Carl's homecare nurse posted a condolence

Thursday, August 23, 2012

I am so honored and thankful that I had the opportunity to take care of Carl and meet his wonderful family. Carl will always have a special place in my heart as will his wife Paula. Carl you are finally healthy and free...

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Suzann Gray - friend of Peder and Pat posted a condolence

Thursday, August 23, 2012

My deepest sympathies and prayes to you and your family.

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Tricia Zygiel ( Christensen) and Family - Oldsmar, FL - niece posted a condolence

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Dear Aunt Paula, I am so sorry to hear of Uncle Carl's passing. I will always remember his soft spoken voice and gentle ways. He is with Grandpa and Grandma now and in peace. He will be missed by all of us. Tricia (Peder's daughter, Carl's niece)

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susan christopher - essex, CT - friend posted a condolence

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Dear Paula So very sorry to here of Carl's passing he was a dear sweet man and I enjoyed his preaching you are in my thoughts Love Susan see you on the 15th

Carl L. Christensen

1935 - 2012

Celebration of Life

Interment