Carl Doren

Carl Doren passed away peacefully on November 12, 2013, a few weeks after his 94th birthday. Born in Minsk, Russia, in 1919, Carl immigrated to the United States in 1923 along with his parents and sister. They arrived at Ellis Island unable to speak a word of English. Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Carl moved to Washington, D.C. in 1940 to begin work as a GS-2 clerk typist. Following a whirlwind romance in 1941, he married his wife of 61 years, Hortense, after a chance meeting at a public swimming pool. In 1942, a routine WWII enlistment physical exam revealed that he had tuberculosis. He spent two years recovering to full health in a sanatorium while receiving regular visits from his new wife. During those two years, he staved off boredom by following the progress of the war on the radio, and keeping track of troop movements on wall charts and maps of the world. It's doubtful that there is a historian alive who knows more about WWII than he did. A few years later, Carl and Hortense had the opportunity to relocate to Denver where their five children were born and raised. He retired as Regional Personnel Officer with General Services Administration in 1976, and worked until 1984 as a sales clerk for May D&F to supplement his civil service retirement income. Carl, a member of Mensa, remained an avid reader and amateur historian to his final days. There was nothing he liked better than a spirited political discussion, and he would happily engage in a heated discussion in support of Obamacare or the need for immigration reform. An avid sports fan, he cheered on the Denver Broncos to the end of his life. During his extended retirement, Carl and Hortense enjoyed many years of world travel and cruising until her death in 2003. Carl is survived by his children, Elaine Chock and Andrea Novotny of Woodbridge and Fairfax Station, Virginia, Russell Doren of Littleton, Stephanie Johnson of San Diego, and Neall Doren of Albuquerque. He has 8 grandchildren as well: Elizabeth Harris, Jeffrey Chock, Kristen Sinclair, Jill Humphreys, Kory Doren, Bryan Zigler, Jeremy Johnson and Riqa Johnson. His four great-grandchildren are Alexander and Nathaniel Harris, and Anna and Luke Sinclair. The family is holding a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Lung Association in his memory. Donations can be made online at http://www.lung.org/donate/ or mailed to American Lung Association National Headquarters, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 800. Washington, DC 20004. Please share memories of Carl and condolences with his family by signing the online guestbook below.