Warm tributes have been paid to a much-loved former Brussels-based journalist who has died at the age of 55.
Karen Carstens (pictured) tragically died in a fire at her home in the United States after she went back into the blazing property to save her cats.
Ms. Carstens died from her injuries after being rushed to a local hospital. There were two cats inside when the fire broke out in the basement around 5.45am on 7 April, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. One cat died and another was found later in the day. The other occupant of the house, the brother of Ms. Carstens, survived.
According to reports in The Washington Times firefighters were originally told no one was inside the house. Carstens had apparently evacuated with her brother but went back inside to get her cat. It is thought the fire was accidental and the house did not have working smoke alarms. The exact cause of the fire is being investigated.
Ms Carstens was born in Washington DC and attended the University of Maryland, graduating in multimedia journalism before working in Brussels for the now defunct European Voice weekly newspaper. She also freelanced for other publications based in the city.
After leaving Brussels, she wrote, edited news and features and a produced weekly electronic newsletter for the German Embassy in Washington DC for seven years.
She then worked for a year as a health writer for the Military Health System site Health.mil and as a communications consultant for the International Finance Corporation. From 2015 she had worked as a freelance writer, editor and translator in her native north America.
She was very active on social media and recently posted that she “missed all the anglophone writers and editors” she had worked with in Brussels, which she said she had been happy to “call home”.
Former colleague at EV, David Cronin, led tributes to her and told this site: “Between 2002 and 2005, I spent many hours working and socializing with Karen in Brussels. She was constantly smiling and seemed to have a boundless capacity for fun, cheer and enthusiasm.
“The only time I can recall her being less than enthusiastic about anything was when she accompanied me to a gig by a band called The Cramps. The racket they kicked up wasn’t exactly to her taste!
“I owe an immense personal debt of gratitude to Karen as she persuaded me (gently) that I should join a gym. That was the first and necessary step I took towards looking after my health properly. I haven’t seen Karen in real life since she moved back to America about 20 years ago. But I regularly saw her Facebook updates about her beloved cats.
“It is deeply tragic that she died trying to rescue them. Equally, it illustrates that she was big-hearted right to the very end.”
Another colleague at the paper, James Drew, said, “I had the pleasure of working with Karen during my early days in Brussels at European Voice – I always found her to be a very warm, kind diligent and intelligent person, and one who will be very sadly missed.”
Her former editor at EV, Dennis Abbott said: “I was deeply shocked by the news.
“As I wrote on my FB page, Karen was a lovely person and a talented journalist. I hired her when I was Editor of European Voice in 2002. She was a positive presence in the newsroom and someone I appreciated a lot. It’s hard to believe she’s gone. I keep seeing her in my mind’s eye.
“We stayed in touch over the years via Facebook. She loved her cats and it seems she was trying to rescue one of them after a fire broke out at her home when she was overcome.
Peter Chapman, another ex-colleague, also voiced shock at the news of her death, adding that “she was one of the warmest humans I ever knew.”
Craig Winneker, who also worked with Ms Carstens in Brussels, said, “Karen was a lively and fun person, who brought more than just journalistic skill to the newsroom: she also brought joy. After she moved back to the US I had been in touch with her mainly on social media, sharing a love of good music and online word games — she was a fierce and highly skilled competitor in Words With Friends. She will be greatly missed.“
Martin Banks, another ex-EV staffer, added: “Her untimely death really is shocking news. Karen will be very fondly remembered as a great writer and an even better human being.”
Adrian Scally, also formerly of EV, said: “She was a great team player with a wonderful smile and much respect from here colleagues. The world will be a little lonelier without her presence.”
A touching obituary by her friends was posted by the US-based Carewell Cremations.
It reads, “Karen’s life was a vibrant tapestry woven from a rich array of passions, places, and profound connections. From the sun-kissed shores of Cape May, New Jersey, where she delighted in swimming in the Atlantic waters at Stone Harbor beach and savoring ice cream from Springer’s, to the bustling cultural heartbeat of New York City, New Mexico which she delighted in the landscapes, art and jewelry, to Europe where she had career success and family connections. Karen embraced the world with compassion, insatiable curiosity, and zest.”
It said her hometown of Washington, DC held a special place in her heart: “This was where her spirit of political activism bloomed.”
“She fervently attended protests and rallies, capturing their essence through her keen photographic eye, and nurtured a deep commitment to environmental causes. This passion for justice and the environment echoed the fervor she carried throughout her life.
“Karen’s German heritage called to her too, especially Hamburg where she moved in 1997 as a Fulbright scholar. Living there and later in Frankfurt allowed her to connect intimately with her ancestral roots, enriching her perspective and deepening her sense of identity.”
It went on: “A lover of art in all its forms, she found joy in museums, painting exhibitions, movies, and music concerts, particularly resonating with indie rock bands and the haunting melodies of fellow Marylander Tori Amos.
“Food was another avenue through which Karen wove her social world—whether brunch, lunch, dinner, or evening cocktails, she cherished the melding of culinary delight and heartfelt connection. Her friendships transcended mere acquaintance; they were lifelong, soulful bonds. Her relationships, even those from past romances, became cherished threads in her enduring circle of soulmates. With neighbours in Brookdale, she loved to stroll and chat, especially delighting in conversations with children, particularly at Halloween, her warmth touched all who crossed her path. She took great joy in caring for her cats Leo and Max.
“Karen’s intellect was as insatiable as her affection. She and her father Reimer shared a vast treasury of historical knowledge, feeding her voracious appetite for reading—long-form journalism like The New Yorker’s features captivated her.”
It said her professional journey was marked by an impressive and varied career in journalism, contributing to outlets across the US and Europe.
From her early studies at the German School in Washington, DC, through her BA in politics at McGill University, multiple master’s degrees spanning print journalism, European integration, and multimedia journalism, to her teaching of German to American adults, Karen’s “dedication to storytelling never waned.”
Her career, it added, took her from regional reporting in Maryland to prestigious roles in Germany and Belgium, including notable stints at Der Spiegel, DPA, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and the European Commission. Later, as web editor for the German Embassy in Washington, DC, and finally a freelance writer and editor, she “continued to inform and inspire”, covering diverse topics from healthcare for US military personnel to global manufacturing trends.
“Central to Karen’s life was her extraordinary bond with her mother Sarah—a love uncomplicated and profound, more friendship than mother-daughter. They spent countless hours together immersed in period dramas like Downton Abbey, sharing moments both quiet and full of laughter. Humor was a lifeline for Karen, a delight for her friends, and light that she and her brother Karl wielded deftly even through dark times. Their screwball jokes, often gently teasing their father with imitations and mirth, revealed a family warmth resonant with love and resilience.”
The obit concluded: “Today, we remember Karen not only for her remarkable achievements and passions but for the radiant spirit she shared so freely—with her family, friends, neighbours, and the wider world she chronicled with such devotion. Her life remains a testament to curiosity, compassion, and a joyous engagement with the world—a legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew her.”
Photo credit: Carewell Cremations
