Remembering Carl

Post #68

Today, Carl Henn died.  Whether or not you knew him, if you lived in Rockville, he made your world a better place.

Carl was a preeminent advocate for bike trails.

He was instrumental in the establishment of Rockville’s three community gardens.

He led the Hungerford Citizens’ Association as its president for the past 3 years and was just reelected.

He ran for the City Council three times—credibly but unsuccessfully both times. 

He was passionate about our environmental future and about ‘peak oil’ as policy issues.

He was an introvert who forced himself to knock on doors, testify before Mayor and Council, and build relationships with other leaders.

In politics and community activism, it’s rare to have the privilege of working with someone who operates 100% of the time from principle.  He wasn’t focused on narrow self-interest or any agenda other than what was right for the greater good of the broader community.

I was honored to have Carl’s support in my State Senate race.  We knocked on doors together in his neighborhood just a few weeks ago.  I saw firsthand the respect with which his neighbors held him.  Nearly all welcomed him warmly and trusted his judgment implicitly.

Carl Henn was a loving husband and father, a committed employee at NIH, and a community leader who made measurable improvements in his neighborhood and in the whole City.

For him to be taken from us all at the age of 48 is just so sad.  Perhaps we can take comfort in the fact that he was outside, had been biking that day, and was celebrating one of his proud achievements, the City’s community garden in King Farm.  Unfortunately, I can’t find much comfort in any of those things right now.  I was hoping to rely on his counsel and ideological purity for many years to come.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!   Did you know Carl?  How will you most remember him?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#68) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.