Death Notice: Karl C. Nielsen

Karl C. Nielsen

Karl C. Nielsen, a longtime Maine resident, was remembered in a death notice published Sunday by the Portland Press Herald. He was 84.

Nielsen was born in Portland and graduated from Portland High School in 1960. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maine.

He spent 35 years working for Central Maine Power, rising to the position of senior engineer before his retirement in 2005. Colleagues described Nielsen as a steady presence and a patient mentor to younger engineers.

"Karl had a way of making complex problems seem manageable," said former coworker Richard Thornton. "He never made anyone feel silly for asking questions."

Nielsen was an avid sailor and spent summers on Sebago Lake. He was a longtime member of the Portland Yacht Club and served as race committee chairman for more than a decade.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara Nielsen of Falmouth; two daughters, Karen Nielsen of Boston and Sarah Caron of Yarmouth; a son, Erik Nielsen of Portland; and five grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Portland Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.

Nielsen died Sept. 4 at his home in Falmouth. He was 84.