[NFBV-Announce] The Passing of Potomac Chapter Member Carl Knoettner

[tracy.soforenko at gmail.com]

I am saddened to share the news of the passing of a great friend and
colleague in the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia.

Carl Knoettner was an extremely active member of the Potomac chapter and our
Virginia affiliate. He was fun, smart, quirky,  and incredibly caring. He
was a long time participant in Richmond Seminar, our state convention, board
meetings, and every Potomac Chapter event possible.

 

Carl loved the NFB and our members. He will be sorely missed. The following
detailed write up was prepared by Sue and Larry Povinelli with support from
others.

 

  We are sorry to announce that Carl Knoettner passed on 26 December 2025.
He was born on 24 July 1945 and was 80 years old. He was a strong supporter
of the National Federation of the Blind and a long time member of the
Potomac Chapter. As a sighted individual, Carl served as a driver, dog
walker, shopping assistant, braille translator for many of the Potomac
Chapter members. Carl also edited and proof read the "Care and Feeding of
the Long White Cane". Carl learned to write braille through a program the
Potomac Chapter offered in 1990's. Although he couldn't read braille with
his fingers, he could read one sided braille with his eyes. For practice,
he braille approximately 800 Lutheran hymns  for one of our members.  He was
a strong advocate for the NFB. If he saw a blind person, he would always go
up and ask them if they knew the NFB. Carl was an avid runner and had
completed several marathons.  He Loved to run in 5K races; 6-Dot Dash,
annual Turkey trots and at least 6 Navy Federal Credit Union races.  Carl
was always encouraging people to walk, even if he had to park the farthest
parking spot from the door to accomplish it. He enjoyed mathematical
puzzles, puns and bad dad jokes, and NPR weekly puzzles.   He enjoyed
reading and attending the Potomac Chapter book club. Carl also served
several years in the U. S. Army. He worked as a computer programmer for the
Navy Federal Credit Union.  Carl attended services at Grace Lutheran Church
for over 30 years. survived Although  he has not been active for several
years due to declining health, we all have fond memories of Carl's
kind-heartedness and quirky personality.

A memorial service is currently being planned. Details will be announced
shortly.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the National Federation of the
Blind of Virginia. At 

https://nfbv.org/donate-now 

Please place in memory of Carl Knoettner in the note field. 

Or to Grace Christian Academy

https://www.gracechristianacademy.org/donate.

 

We remember Carl fondly and  hope you will keep this member of our
Federation family friend in your thoughts .

 

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

 <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com

 <http://www.nfb.org> www.nfb.org

 <http://www.nfbv.org> www.nfbv.org

National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

 

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