Karl was a longtime employee of the Mystic Seaport Museum's interpretation department, where he was an assistant foreman on the demonstration squad. He learned many traditional maritime skills there and became particularly adept at sail making and woodcarving. His life-sized codfish carvings were known throughout the museum.
Karl also studied the harp and composed music for the instrument. He was a creative brewer and vintner, experimenting with making wine from tomatoes, pumpkins, and rutabagas. He was an avid reader and prolific poet. He often said that the greatest compliment he could have received was to be called a poet, since he believed that was a frame of mind, not just a talent. When courting his wife, he wrote her a poem every day for months.
Karl graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1979 with a biology degree.
He is survived by his wife, Lynn Marie; their two children, Christoph Thor and Lillian Abigail; his parents, Bill and Betty Jerome; his brothers, Otto and Bill; and his step-siblings, Susan Jerome, Anne Jerome, Bill Jerome, and Lynn Jerome.
There will be a memorial service at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, at Chubb's Wharf, Mystic Seaport Museum.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Christoph and Lillian Steinmayer Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 13, Old Mystic CT 06372.
The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic, is assisting the family.
For online condolence guest registry for the family, please visit www.dinotofuneral.com.
From The Day, New London. Published 10/06/2002