Carl Herbert Haag died at home on April 23, 2025, in Princeton NJ, 71 days shy of turning 97. He is remembered as being intelligent, kind, generous, humorous, creative, quirky and caring of everyone he met. He had a prodigious memory of people, places, food and factoids. He is survived by his wife, The Rev. Carol Haag, children Cindy and Ken, daughter-in-law Nikki and two grandchildren.

Carl was born July 3, 1928 in Cleveland OH, the only child of Anna and Albert Haag. He explored the city and the surrounding area with his mother and his childhood friend Herb Field.  He and Herb spent a summer with a Mennonite family in Virginia that was a treasured memory. One of his delights as a child was becoming a magician. His mother and he were avid bicyclers.  Later he led cycling trips with Canadian Youth Hostel in Canada and Europe. He took his wife and children on a cycling trip through the Canadian Rockies. 

Carl was bright and attended accelerated classes. Following graduation, he enrolled in the US army knowing that the GI bill would help him go to college. Following WWII, he was sent to Japan in the Quarter Master Corp and loved exploring the country and learning about the culture. He chose Antioch College, graduating in 1952 after studying philosophy. Antioch was a significant influence and he took seriously Horace Mann’s challenge to “win some victory for humanity” before he died. 

Following a stint in the admissions office at Case Tech, he achieved a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Michigan. While teaching there, he responded to a job offer at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton NJ. He was so intrigued with the Advanced Placement Program that he took the job. He worked as the Director of the AP program for 27 years.   

ETS brought many good things into Carl’s life including his wife Alice Carol Schwartz. He saw her in a play as Mommy in the “American Dream” and thought she was dreadful, but when they took a walk at ETS and he saw her take her shoes off in the mud he fell in love with her. They were married on his birthday in 1965 at the Unitarian Church and made their life in Princeton for the next 60 years. They built a house in the woods and raised their two children in that house.  Cindy Lara was born on New Year’s Day in 1968 and Kenneth Alan was born November 8, 1970. Carl created a magical, loving environment for them to grow up in. Long before he died Carl wrote a note for his family to find saying: “You were the best things in my life and I loved you deeply.” 

Carl was an avid photographer, capturing his life experiences through photos from an early age. He photographed people, the natural world, every family occasion, and his many travels around the world.  

Unitarian Universalism was very important to Carl, coming from a non-religious background. He was engaged at local, district and continental levels. He was president of the church, committee member, teacher, historian, library creator and welcomer. He was president of the Metro NY District and served on the Ministerial Fellowship Committee. As a board member of the Universalist Retreat Center Murray Grove, he helped save 200 acres of New Jersey shoreland. He also helped create and lead a men’s group that lasted for decades and continues on. 

Carl was an avid collector and was fascinated by tools and antiques. He said he traveled to 3 corners of the world. He loved camping, canal barges, home exchanges, cruises and bicycle trips.  

He was a great listener, asking engaging questions to draw someone out and learn about them. Carl’s creative way of seeing the world made him a great story-teller, talented historian and playful companion. He cared about the environment and social issues. He was a deeply loyal and caring friend, father and husband. Carl was a gentle, loving soul who made an indelible impression on the earth and will be deeply honored and missed. 

There will be a memorial service later this summer at the Unitarian Church of Princeton NJ. Send inquiries to: susan@uuprinceton.org