Hal Carstens (1925-2009)

[Otto Vondrak]

Hal Carstens, owner of Carstens Publications, publisher of Railroad Model Craftsman, Railfan & Railroad, and Flying Models, passed away suddenly this morning at his home in New Jersey. More details will be provided as they become available.

[Otto Vondrak]

[Otto Vondrak]

The hobby industry lost a true giant yesterday with the passing of Hal Carstens. Hal joined the staff of Railroad Model Craftsman in 1952, became editor in 1954 and president of the company in 1962.

Hal served as president of various organizations, including Hobbies Industries of America, the Model Railroad Industry Association, FRiends of the New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Museum and the Train Collectors Association. He also served in various capacities with the Photographic Society of America, Hobby Industry Association and the Wagner College Board of Trustees.

It was his leadership of Carstens Publications where he will be missed the most. The business has always been more of a family, and Hal was our patriarch. I wouldn't be able to thank him enough for the opportunities he has given me in the publishing business.

To say we're going to miss Hal is obvious. But while we'll miss him as our leader and boss, and miss him as one of the hobby industry's premier promoters, we'll miss him most as a friend.

Steve Barry
Railfan & Railroad

[Otto Vondrak]

Harold H. (Hal) Carstens was born in Fort. Lee, N. J., on June 20, 1925, and was a life long resident of Bergen County, N. J. until moving to Sussex County, N. J. in 1973.

He was the President & former Publisher of Carstens Publications Inc., which publishes three internationally distributed monthly magazines: Railroad Model Crafstman, Flying Models, and Railfan & Railroad. The firm also publishes soft and hard cover books primarily in the model hobby and railroad fields. Founded in 1933 by Emanuele Stieri, ownership passed in 1934 to Charles A. Penn, formerly with Bernarr MacFadden’s publishing empire. In 1940 the company moved from New York City to Ramsey, N. J. In 1973 the company bought a ten acre site in Fredon Township, Sussex County, N. J., and built its present custom tailored editorial building...

Hal passed away on June 23, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, and they recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary; their children Rebecca Collis her husband Philip of Raleigh, NC; Heidi Lynch and her husband Guy of Orange Park, FL; Henry Carstens and his wife Janet of Fredon, NJ; Harold Carstens and his Fiancé Margaret Hoff; and grandchildren Rob, Simon and Nick Collis; Samantha and Stuart Siffring; Brenna and Shannon Lynch; Loren, Katie & David Carstens.

Memorial gift should be made to:

The Abby Aldrich Folk Art Museum
for the care and preservation of the
Carstens Model Train Collection
C/O Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Po Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187

http://www.carstens-publications.com/obituary.html

[Otto Vondrak]

See also: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=62882