Carl Zellner Memorial Service


A memorial service and celebration of Carl Zellner’s life will be held at the Bunker Hill Museum 43 Monument Sq. Charlestown on September 7, 2014 at 2 pm. 

ZELLNER, Carl A. 78, of Palmyra, FL, formerly of Charlestown, MA, passed away Sunday, 29 June, at Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, MA, with family at his side.

Carl was born 4 October 1935 to Gladys and August Zellner in Oklahoma City, OK. There he graduated Classen High School. His further education included: Principia College, BA degree, University of Washington, MA degree and his doctoral work at Harvard.

Carl’s career as a city planner spanned many decades and impacted the layout of many cities, towns, and highways. He also spent a few years in the US Coast Guard, active duty in Alaska, before joining the USCG Reserves where he rose to the rank of Captain, O6, before retiring.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Beverley, 1934-96.

His legacy: son Charles Zellner and wife Susan, Lehighton, PA., Carla Smith and husband Jeff, Wellfleet, MA., Danielle Cahill and husband Bill, Nashville, TN. His legacy of grandchildren include: Matthew Zellner, Mark Zellner, Nicole Zellner, Amber Wirth, Beverley Cahill, and Marina Smith. Great grandchildren: Gabriel, Aubrey and Hannah Wirth, and Gloria Zellner. Carl is also survived by his cousin Merrilee Zellner of Newport, RI.

Carl was a longtime resident of Boston and Charlestown. A retired city planner for the city of Boston, he was in part responsible for design of the Big Dig and many roads and parks in the city. He had been retired and living in Palmyra, VA with his current wife, Virginia Foster, for the past 10 years.

As an avid Boston historian, he had been doing research on a variety of subjects, followed by a visit to his daughter in Wellfleet, MA at the time of his passing.A memorial service and celebration of Carl’s life will be held at the Bunker Hill Museum on 7 September. Call for details.

Donations in his memory can be made to Charlestown Historical Society, PO Box 291776, Charlestown, MA 02129.

Carl, due to his research and love of Charlestown history, was responsible for a historical marker noting the landing site of Paul Revere’s boat being moved to its current and correct location.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com

Published in The Boston Globe from July 9 to July 10, 2014.