<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>A memorial service is currently being planned. Details will be announced shortly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia. At <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://nfbv.org/donate-now">https://nfbv.org/donate-now</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please place in memory of Carl Knoettner in the note field. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Or to Grace Christian Academy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://www.gracechristianacademy.org/donate">https://www.gracechristianacademy.org/donate</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We remember Carl fondly and hope you will keep this member of our Federation family friend in your thoughts .<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Tracy Soforenko<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>202 285-4595<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Tracy.soforenko@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbv.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>