March 19, 2009 we received the message that our dear colleague Karen J. Freeze died after losing a courageous battle with cancer.

Over the past years, Karen has been instrumental in broadening our perspective to include Eastern, Central, and South Eastern Europe in our work and in our network of Tensions of Europe scholars. She was responsible for all the early contacts with young scholars in the region, educating us about our preconceptions and biases, while bridging the scholarly divisions that for decades were created as a result of the Cold War. Many new friendships and collaborations have been the result of her efforts. One was the memorable Tensions conference in Budapest in 2004, where many of us met each other for the first time; another collaboration between East and West became institutionalized in a PhD program of the Foundation for the History of Technology with Eindhoven University of Technology, Karl University in Prague and the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

As an American, she has been a true bridge builder in overcoming differences in Europe. We mourn the loss of a special dear friend and wonderful colleague. We wish her daughter, son, and mother all the strength in the difficult time ahead.

Johan Schot and Ruth Oldenziel, Tensions of Europe Network
Jan Korsten, Foundation for the History of Technology

  Memorial services and Donations in Karen’s memory:

§  Seattle, WA, USA: Memorial Service and Reception on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 7 PM, University Presbyterian Church.

§  Czech Republic: Private Recital and Reception in Prague (Christopher Freeze will perform a program of classical repertoire for tenor, with piano and violoncello accompaniment), and a Memorial Service in Eastern Bohemia, September 18-20, 2009 (exact dates and times to be determined, but both events will happen that weekend).  More information on the Czech services.

§  Donations in Karen's memory can be made to A Rocha Czech http://www.arocha.org/in-memoriam/karen-freeze.html.

§  Please also visit the special page about Karen Freeze on the DMI website: http://www.dmi.org/dmi/html/aboutdmi/karen_freeze.htm.