Carl A. Olsson ’60 died on October 3, 2024, in New York, New York.
(The following was provided by John J. Fox Funeral Home in October 3, 2024:)
Carl A. Olsson ’60
Physician and yachtsman Dr. Carl Alfred Olsson passed away peacefully on October 3, 2024, with his wife, Mary, by his side. Carl was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 29, 1938. He was 85 years old. Carl dedicated his life to the advancement of urologic medicine, the care of his patients and sharing his passion of sailing.
Carl A. Olsson earned his M.D. from Boston University in 1963 after receiving his undergraduate training from Bowdoin College. His career spanned decades, during which he made groundbreaking contributions to urologic cancer treatment and education.
In his early days out of medical school, Carl volunteered for Project Vietnam, a USAID program serving the Vietnamese Community and completed fellowship training at the Cleveland Clinic in renal transplant surgery. He went on to hold significant positions in his field, including chief of urology at the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center, director of the urology department of Boston City Hospital and urologist-in-chief at the University Hospital in Boston. In 1980, Carl Olsson moved to New York where he continued his work holding the positions of John K. Lattimer Professor and chairman, Department of Urology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, chief of Squier Urological Clinic of the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, chief medical officer of Integrated Medical Professionals, PLLC and editor of Urology Practice and director of quality initiatives and strategy in the Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Carl’s dedication to advancing urology was evident through his leadership roles in numerous professional organizations. He served as a trustee of the American Board of Urology, president of the New York section of the American Urologic Association, president of the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, and secretary of the AUA. He was the recipient of many awards in his field including winning multiple Grayson Carroll Essay contests, receiving citations from the US Department of State and the Republic of Vietnam, the Gold Cystoscope Award from the AUA, the John K. Lattimer Award, and the Hugh Hampton Young Award. His numerous accolades reflect his unwavering commitment to research and education, as well as his impact on countless lives.
A prolific researcher and author, Carl published extensively on topics ranging from nephrostomy in renal transplantation to innovative cancer therapies. His pioneering work included the first use of immunotherapy in bladder cancer and the first use of alpha blockade to treat BPH symptoms. His extensive publications regarding continent urinary diversion have significantly advanced contemporary surgical techniques in urology.
When Carl wasn’t in the office you could find him on the water. Carl grew up sailing in Boston Harbor with his family. When he enrolled at Bowdoin College he continued his passion, lettering in sailing and winning several regattas. There he caught the competitive bug of racing, which he pursued throughout his life. Prior to owning his own boat, he and his wife, Mary, spent Sunday mornings at Community Boating in Boston, racing in the mercury fleet on the Charles River. It may be noted that their children, Ingrid and Eric, sat on the dock as onlookers from an early age. When Carl bought his first racing boat, a bright orange Evelyn 32, he commissioned his sister, Ambia, to design the graphic lettering which spanned the length of the hull in stark white letters reading “Orange Blossom.” After that he owned a succession of larger racing boats all named “Morning Glory.” Carl loved a double entendre. His racing career soared once he arrived on the shores of Long Island Sound, calling the Larchmont Yacht Club his second home for over forty years, where he served as commodore from 2011-2012.
Among the numerous awards Carl achieved in sailing, he held the Alex Gest Trophy for outstanding service to the club and yachting, the Brassem Trophy, the Monte Sano Trophy, the Lipton- Martin Trophy and was named Sailor of the Week by US Sailing.
Carl’s sailing experience was not limited to Long Island Sound. In 1985 along with four others, Carl and his son, Eric, completed a transatlantic sail from Larchmont, NY, to Cork, Ireland. Carl also sailed “Morning Glory” in the Newport-to-Bermuda race multiple times.
Carl was a passionate advocate for inclusivity in sailing and sportsmanship alike. An amputee since birth, Carl learned to ski with adaptive equipment in his 40s. While in Boston, he became an avid supporter of the New England Handicap Sportsman’s Association. He competed regionally in NASTAR races and went on to medal in the Paralympics in slalom held in Colorado. He later competed and won in US Sailing’s first Adaptive Championship. Carl continued to be an advocate and supporter of many sailing programs sharing his love of water with sailors young and old, able bodied or not.
He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-four years, Mary Katherine DeVore, his daughter, Ingrid (Lars) Ellison, his son, Leif Eric (Andrea Combes) Olsson, and his five grandchildren, Cole, Raine, Mary August, Axel, and Berit.
Carl Olsson will be remembered for his immense contributions to medicine, his unwavering dedication to his patients, his passion for sailing, his signature bow ties and his profound impact on those he met. He loved a lighthouse and was a beacon to many.