Karl Mathiasen III ’47

Karl died peacefully while in hospice care Sept. 20, 2014.

He matriculated at Princeton in the summer of 1943, served in the Army, and then returned to graduate in June 1949.

He earned a master’s degree from Columbia’s School of International Affairs in 1951. From 1951 to 1963, he served with the agency for International Development in North Africa and as chief of the policy-planning division. He then became a senior staff member at the Brookings Institution and executive vice president of the University of North Africa Association. In 1972, Karl founded the planning and management-assistance project, which provided management counseling and organizational analysis to many nonprofit groups. Karl was recognized as one of the leading experts on board and staff dynamics and board development. He retired in 1995.

Karl served on the board of more than 35 charities and faith-based groups, including the New World Foundation, of which he was president. Karl was also active in the Episcopal Church and served as vice chairman of the board for theological education.

He was predeceased by his wife in 2007. He is survived by his son, Tim; daughters Elizabeth Tillson and Ann Farquhar; and six grandchildren. The class sends its deepest sympathy to the family.