In Memory of Karl Francis Pelkan (1959–2025)
After a courageous battle with aggressive cancer, Karl Francis Pelkan passed away peacefully at home on January 21, 2025, at the age of 65, with his devoted wife, Kitty, by his side. Karl was a former director of Ti Ti Tábor during its early years and was an important part of our camp community.
Born in Southern California and raised in the Napa Valley, Karl was the eldest of four siblings. He graduated from Oregon State University in 1983 with a B.S. in Construction Engineering Management. Karl spent much of his professional life in the Seattle area, working for The Vemo Company, Tri-State Construction, and Gary Merlino Construction Company, Inc., where his analytical mind and meticulous attention to detail shone in building and heavy civil construction projects.
Karl’s true passion was folk dancing. Wherever he went, he sought out folkdance communities, and in 1987, while working in Newport News, Virginia, he wandered into a Virginia Beach Folk Dancers event and met Kitty. It was love at first dance. They married, settled in Seattle, and continued to share their love of dance, travel, and crossword puzzles, creating cherished memories together. In Seattle, Karl became an active participant in the local Hungarian folk dance scene, performing with several local groups and sharing his expertise as a dedicated teacher, inspiring others with his skill and enthusiasm.
Karl was a key figure in the early history of TiTiTábor where he served as a camp director with remarkable dedication. His organizational prowess, creativity, and knack for problem-solving came in useful as he helped get camp off the ground by organizing the finances, visas, and other logistical tasks. Campers knew Karl not just as a competent director and excellent dancer, but also as a kind, helpful friend who had a smile for everyone. Even after stepping back from organizing, Karl remained a steadfast supporter of camp, assisting with transportation, hosting, and logistics.
Known for his hearty laugh, sly wit, and inquisitive nature, Karl had a gift for understanding how things worked, from intricate thingamajigs to the stories of people and places. Patricia Wigney, former camp director who worked with Karl for many years, recalls some of her time working with him:
“Karl was one of the kindest people I’ve known, always generous with his time and deeply committed to his work with TTT. His passion for the Hungarian dance community was unwavering, and his generosity knew no bounds. Behind Karl stood the remarkable Kitty. The saying “behind every good man is a great woman” couldn’t have been truer—she quietly did so much that few ever saw.
One of my favorite memories is of Karl and my husband Richard building the dance floor for camp each year. Karl had already drawn up plans and had the pieces cut before Richard even arrived. The two of them spent days installing it—measuring, sawing, making countless trips to the hardware store, fueled by coffee and shared jokes. Karl was relentless in his pursuit of perfection; if he noticed flaws during camp, he’d jot down ideas to improve it the following year and even re-cut parts of the floor mid-camp. That was Karl, meticulous, passionate, and full of heart.”
Karl is survived by his beloved wife, Kitty; his mother, Betsy Pelkan; sisters, Dr. Kathleen Pelkan and Alexandra Olenczuk; and sister-in-law, Pamela Pelkan. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Karl F. Pelkan, Jr., and his brother, Stephen E. Pelkan. Karl’s spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew him, forever dancing to the rhythm of a life well-lived. In honor of his enduring contributions and spirit, the 2025 TiTiTabor camp is dedicated to Karl’s memory.