House, Oscar Carl, Jr. (July 6, 1939—March 7, 2024)

Carl House from Naperville, Illinois joined most of our classmates for our freshmen year at Grinnell in August 1957 and graduated from the College with his B.A. degree in psychology on June 4, 1961. At the College he resided the first three years in Gates Hall and then the new East Norris Hall his senior year.

Carl was a member of the College’s Religious Activities Committee, Uncle Sam’s Club and the Wrestling Team. In his senior year he served as a freshman advisor while in the College’s production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth he had the role of Ross, a Scottish nobleman.

Afterwords he was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from October 1962 through April 1963. He then worked in advertising with Procter & Gamble before attending

Harvard University Business School, 1967-69, obtaining a M.B.A in finance and real estate.

Thereafter Carl engaged in a career of economic development and financial planning. He worked with the Rouse Company to plan the new city of Columbia, Maryland and with the MacArthur Foundation in the development of North Palm Beach County (Florida) as well as consulting around the world with the U.S. Agency for International Development. He also helped to foster various nonprofits in Palm Beach County, including NOAH Development Corporation and South Florida Family Promise.

Carl was an enthusiastic master swimmer, participating in their competitions throughout the world and volunteering for the U.S. Master Swimming organization.

He and his first wife, Elana Susan House, had two sons (Jonathan, who died in 1996, and Jeffrey), and after divorce, Carl married Nancy Stroud.

Carl was a member of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, Florida, which hosted his memorial service.

Carl is survived by wife Nancy, son Jeffrey, brother Robert and sister-in-law Shiela House.

Duane W. Krohnke (Author)