C. Carl Pegels

1933 - 2025

Pegels, C. Carl

February 26, 1933 - June 29, 2025

92, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025, near his summer home in Chautauqua, NY. Carl's humility, caring nature, and generosity will be sorely missed. Born in the Netherlands, Carl immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1948. From 1955-1962, he worked at Ford Motor Company as an industrial engineer and product engineer. He received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Detroit Institute of Technology. In 1962, he moved to the United States to complete graduate work at Purdue University, where he received his M.S. degree in Management in 1963, and his Ph.D. degree in Management in 1966. He began his academic professorial appointment in 1966 at the University of Buffalo, SUNY. He rose to Associate Professor in 1968 and to Professor in 1980. He served as Chairman of the Department of Management Science and Systems and as Associate Dean of the School of Management. During his academic career as a professor, he published over 80 academic and professional papers, and wrote 18 academic books, including three best sellers. In the mid-seventies he became involved with the Health Maintenance Organization movement in Buffalo and was a co-founder of Independent Health. Following his retirement, he became interested in Dutch American history, compiling over 250 biographical profiles on prominent Dutch Americans, integrating them into three books and over a dozen published papers. In his later years, Carl wrote books on history, politics, and religion. In Buffalo's running circles he will be remembered as the local long- distance runner who ran 250 marathons including over 40 ultra runs, some as long as 100 miles. He was recognized by the Buffalo News as Runner of the Year five times in his age group. In 2002, he completed his quest to run at least one marathon in every state. Carl was deeply loved by his wife, Patricia Pegels, of Marana, Arizona, his daughter, Dr. Janice Pegels and her husband, Dr. James Jewell, of Westhampton, MA, his son, Kevin Pegels and wife, Nancy, of Del Mar, CA, five grandchildren, Adrian, Marcella, Ryan, Stefen, and Elena, two great grandchildren, Azlan and Ayravathi, his sister, Adriana Rowswell, and sister-in-law, Jenny Pegels. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Presbyterian House Chapel in the Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY.