Carl I. Belz ’59 *63

On page 371 of our Nassau Herald you will see that Carl Belz was voted the “Best Athlete” in the class. An outstanding baseball player and All-Ivy captain of the basketball team, we lost our Best Athlete Aug. 28, 2016, to a heart attack brought on by unresolvable blood circulation problems that had previously occasioned amputation of one leg. 

Arriving at Princeton with his twin brother, Herman, from Haddon Heights (N.J.) High School, the brothers Belz made their mark on the diamond, the boards, and Cannon Club.  

Carl chose to major in biology with plans to attend Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was later admitted. But a drawing class taken senior year changed his direction. Forgoing a medical career, he earned both a master’s and a doctorate in art history from Princeton.  

Drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors, but not accepting the offer, he played professionally in the Eastern Basketball League to pay his way through graduate school. He taught briefly at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Mills College, then went on to become a giant in the field of contemporary art, serving for 24 years as director of the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University. 

Carl is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara; their daughter, Portia; three daughters by a previous marriage, Melissa, Gretchen, and Emily; two sisters; his brother, Herman; and five grandchildren. We have sent condolences.