Dr. Carl Nielsen

Dr. Carl Johann Nielsen

Dr. Carl Johann Nielsen, 65, of Frederick, died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

He was born on Sept. 26, 1943 in Charleston, S.C., to the late Dr. Ernest Nielsen, MD, and the late Florence Hinchen Nielsen. After earning a bachelor of art in zoology from UCLA, he enlisted in the Army and became an officer candidate in the Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning.

While stationed with the Infantry in Kirch-Gons, Germany, he met Suzanne Fisher, who was in Germany teaching school for the Department of Defense. They were married in Basel, Switzerland, in 1968. After changing his status to the Army reserves, he received an master of science in chemistry from California State University, and then a Ph.D. in pharmacology from University of Michigan.

In his 30-year commitment to science to help the military, he tirelessly pursued the development of medical products that would provide defensive measures to protect, treat and sustain the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to defend our country. He felt there was no higher calling and dedicated his life in its pursuit.

He served as the head of the Cancer Pharmacology and Drug Chemistry Section, NCI-Frederick; senior chemist and biologist for JTC Environmental Consultants; chief, Anti-radiation Pharmacology Branch at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.; conducted research at Walter Reed; Reviewing Pharmacologist at the FDA, and transferred his commission to the Public Health Service.

At the FDA, he was a project manager for Drug Development at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC); executive secretary for Special Review Committees for Grants at the NCI; senior regulatory research officer in the Division of Antiviral Drug Products at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), and as deputy director for the Antiviral Research Laboratory at CDER.

Promoted to the rank of captain, Dr. Nielsen retired from the USPHS in 2001. After retiring, Dr. Nielsen continued his efforts to develop antiviral products as a Senior Scientist in the Office of Product Development and Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Ft. Detrick.

He also served as the senior scientist for the Unconventional Pathogens Countermeasures Program for the Defense Advanced Research Program Agency (DARPA) where he advanced a number of anti-terrorist products critical to the nation's defense. Reorganization within USAMRMC moved him to the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) where he was employed by the Clinical Research Management as senior scientist and Regulatory Affairs expert.

Carl Nielsen had numerous passions in his life. An avid SCUBA diver and PADI master instructor, he partnered with another diving enthusiast to open The Brass Anchor dive shop in Frederick. He volunteered countless hours as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. A member for more than 30 years, he was elected to serve as the commander of the local Auxiliary Flotilla 24-07.

In addition to his loving wife, Suzanne Fisher Nielsen, Dr. Nielsen is survived by two children, Ingrid Nielsen and husband, Michael Bunitsky, of Frederick, and Kirsten Nielsen, of Seattle, Wash. His brother, John L. Nielsen, resides in Kingsport, Tenn.

Carl is gone from us now, and we will miss him terribly, but we know that he is in a better place.

Arrangements are by Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Divers Alert Network (DAN) DiversAlertNetwork.org and the Catheter Lab at Frederick Memorial Hospital; FMH.org.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Frederick Presbyterian Church, 115 W. Second St., Frederick, with the Rev. Dr. Eric T. Myers officiating.

_PaperDate 6/3/09