Frank Karel

Background

Frank Karel was born on August 30, 1935 in Orlando, Florida.

Education

He graduated from the University of Florida in 1961 and later received a master’s degree in public administration from New York University in 1983.

Career

A leader and visionary, Karel focused on philanthropic communications as a way to drive social change. He served in the Texas Air Force from 1954-1958. They had two daughters, Barbara Kendrick and Elizabeth Reynolds.

In 1990, he was named an alumnus of distinction by the UF College of Journalism and Communications.

He was a reporter for the Miami Herald and The Tampa Tribune before working in communications. He served two terms as the vice president of communications for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from 1974-1987.

And again in 1993-2001. In between his time at RWJF, he worked as vice president of communications for the Rockefeller Foundation.

After he retired in 2001 he worked on memoirs and was an advisor to Burness Communications, a nonprofit public relations firm.

Karel died at 74 years old on September 19, 2009, after a nine-year battle with prostate cancer in Washington, District of Columbia The Frank Karel Chair in Public Interest Communications was created to field research and practice of public interest communications and strategies. Its goal is to define the field as a tool for advancing organizations’ missions and goals in public and nonprofit sectors. The grant allowed the department of public relations to recruit a practitioner to mentor and direct students who are preparing for careers in public service.

Achievements

• His best season was 1961, when he posted a won-loss record of 11–11 and led Cleveland with 11 saves and an ERA of 3.31, appearing in 56 games.

Connections

associate:

Hopkins Hospital