Dr. Karen Windau Tyson

Karen W. Tyson, 60, an economist with the Institute for Defense Analyses, and congregational leader at the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, both in Alexandria, Virginia, died on May 9 at Virginia Hospital Center, after a brief illness. Karen was born in Sandusky, Ohio, first surviving daughter of Lola (nee Light) and Robert G. Windau. Karen was valedictorian of her high school class at St. Mary's High School in Sandusky, a National Merit Scholar, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was one of the first fifty women to be admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgetown University, where she met her husband, Herb. She graduated with honors in Economics and Government, and accepted a graduate assistantship to attend Michigan State University, where she was awarded her Ph.D. in Economics, specializing in Public Finance, Econometrics, and Health Economics. While in graduate school, she and Herb were married in Sandusky, Ohio, in 1974. Following graduate school, Karen accepted an offer from Abt Associates in Cambridge, MA, and she and Herb moved to nearby Lexington. After a year in the Boston area, Karen transferred to the Washington, DC offices of Abt Associates, where she worked as a health economist. She later worked at Chase Econometrics, and then was an Associate Professor in Georgetown University's Department of Family and Community Medicine, working in the Center for Health Policy Studies. She then left Georgetown to join the staff at the Institute for Defense Analyses, where she worked as a cost analyst for more than 25 years, working on issues in both defense and health. After joining Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church in 1994, Karen quickly became very active and rose to a position of leadership, serving on the finance committee, the long range planning team, as a founding member of the Nexus problem-solving team, a leader of the capital programs team, the stewardship team, as Chair of the Communications Council, and as a member and subsequently Chair of the church's Board of Trustees. She also organized a number of benefit concerts that benefitted the Bryant Early Learning Center, an arm of United Community Ministries. Karen also loved singing in the church choir. She has been an integral part of MVUC, and will be missed. Karen is preceded in death by her daughter Katherine (Katie) Anne Windau Tyson, who was tragically killed in 2009 in a car crash. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Lola and Robert G. Windau. Karen is survived by her husband, Herb. They would have celebrated their 38th anniversary on June 14th. She is also survived by her brother Mike Windau of Sandusky, Ohio, and her sister Janice Windau and brother Greg Windau, both of whom reside near Karen in Northern Virginia. Karen was blessed with numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, who also survive her. A Celebration of Life will be held in Karen's honor at the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church on May 27, at 3 pm. The church is at 1909 Windmill Lane, Alexandria, VA 22307. In lieu of flowers or food, memorial contributions may be made to the Katie Tyson Fund for Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Electronic donations may be made at https://giving.uua.org/tyson. Or, checks may be mailed to UUA, Attn: Stewardship, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108 (888)792-5885. Please make checks out to the UUA, with "Katie Tyson Fund" in the memo line. Information about the fund is provided at http://www.uua.org/giving/funds/168262.shtml.