Karl Mathias Mayer-Wittmann, aged 95, passed away from natural causes on March 20, 2021 at his home in Old Greenwich. He was born to German parents on May 27, 1925 in Mendoza, Argentina. At the age of 3, Karl and his parents emigrated to the U.S., arriving on Ellis Island, suitcase in hand. Karl grew up in Bridgeport, CT before graduating as a Chemical Engineer from Worchester Polytechnic Institute in 1945 at age 20. He would go on to earn further degrees in Economics and Statistics followed by a PhD in Economics from NYU. In 1950, he married his wife of 65 years, the late Gerda Mayer-Wittmann (nee Rotermund) of Bremen, Germany. Together, they raised five children and lived in Washington DC, Atlanta, GA and Remscheid, Germany before settling in Greenwich in 1970.
Karl had a distinguished business career, including executive positions at the Atomic Energy Commission, Lockheed, RilogaWerke (Germany) and JP Stevens. His career culminated at the ITT Corporation where, as Chief Economist, he was responsible for the long-range strategy and planning of the conglomerate’s 500 companies and 500,000 employees.
He was an active member of the German Community in New York City as well as in Fairfield County, where he belonged to various organizations including the Deutscher Verein of NYC, the German American Club of Stamford and the Norwalk Quartett Club. Over the past 30-40 years, he developed a broad circle of friends who remember him fondly.
Karl’s greatest love was his family. He is survived by his children Diethild Holbein, Gerhard Mayer, Heide Moeller, Elke Naumovitz, Norbert Mayer-Wittmann, his 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Karl’s memory to: ‘Turner Liedertafel’, 2 Lighthouse Lane, Old Greenwich CT 06870. Karl will be laid to rest in a private ceremony. A celebration of his life will take place at a later date.
