Karl Lombard Briel, 95, died quietly while reading the newspaper in his favorite armchair on Thursday, June 18th. Born in Boston November 5, 1919, the son of Christian and Louise (Woodward) Briel, he spent summers as a youth at the summer home of his maternal grandparents in Sutton, and came to think of the Sutton/Millbury/Worcester area as home.
In November, 1940, following graduation from Worcester Academy, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, earning a commission as Pilot Officer. During flight training in Canada, he also attended the University of Saskatchewan. After the United States entered World War II, he transferred to the United States Army Air Corps in May 1942. After a stint training pilots to fly the B-24 Liberator, he was assigned to fly B-29s in missions over Japan from airfields in China. For each separate bombing mission of the B-29 squadron, fuel and bombs had to be ferried over the "hump" to the airfield, flying from India over the Himalayas in often dangerous weather conditions. Once the bombing mission over Japan was completed, the squadron would then return to India from China to begin the process all over again. Mr. Briel flew 38 of these missions. As well as flying combat and support missions as a B-29 commander in the China-Burma-India Theater, he was later based in the Mariana Islands. At the war's end, he returned to the U.S. and received a regular commission as Major in the USAF. Among his training and development assignments over the next five years was the layout of the flight deck for the B-52, for many years the principal long-range aircraft of the U.S. strategic air arm.
During his service career Mr. Briel was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Presidential Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
After leaving the USAF in May, 1950, Mr. Briel became managing partner of the C.D. Whitney Insurance Agency in Millbury. Over the next two decades, the long-time Millbury firm grew from some $500, 000 a year in underwriting to more than $6 million. In 1970, Mr. Briel became owner, President, and later CEO of the Agency, and Chairman of the board, and served the agency during a 48 year career. He was also a Chairman of the Board of Millbury Savings Bank for 28 years and a Trustee for 46 years, a partner in Briel, Jones & Whiting, a President of the Board and Treasurer of Worcester Academy, a President and Secretary of the Worcester Club, and was a member of the St. Wulstan Society until forced to resign due to ill health.
Mr. Briel was very active in civic and cultural affairs - in the arts, human services, and historical and environmental organizations in the greater Worcester area. He was a Corporator of the Worcester Art Museum and a member of the Collections Committee for 19 years, a member of the American Antiquarian Society and served as Director on the Council and the Financial Committee. His other Directorships included the Family Service Organization, Inc.; the District Nursing Society, Inc.; the Performing Arts School of Worcester, Inc.; the Homestead Hall/Goddard House; and the Sharon Art Center, of which he was also a Trustee. His other trusteeships included the Worcester Hahnemann Hospital, the Garden City Waldorf School, Trustees of Reservations, Worcester County Music Association, Old Sturbridge Village, and Salisbury West. He was an active member of many other organizations, including the Audubon Society of Massachusetts and the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, the Worcester Horticultural Society, the Worcester County Mechanics Association, the Sutton Historical Society, the Millbury Historical Society, and the Worcester Historical Museum. He was a member of the Olive Branch Lodge AF & AM, 32nd degree, and an Associate of the Rose of Sharon AF & AM. A keen sailor for many years, Mr. Briel was a member of the New Bedford Yacht Club, the National Maritime Historical Society, Mystic Seaport, and the South Street Seaport (NY).
His beloved lifetime partner, Dorothy Mayne Briel, pre-deceased him in 2008. He is survived by his daughter, Julie Briel Thomas, and son-in-law, Clive R. Thomas, of Paris, France; by his great-niece, Jennifer Fisher Weiss, and her two children, Lindsey and Daniel; and by the many friends whose lives he brightened and enriched, some of whom should be counted as extended family.
There will be a private graveside gathering of a few close friends and family in the celebration of his life. Instead of flowers, donations please, in his name, to the American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609. To leave a special message or memory for the family in Karl's online condolence book please visit:
Read Karl Briel's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
In November, 1940, following graduation from Worcester Academy, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, earning a commission as Pilot Officer. During flight training in Canada, he also attended the University of Saskatchewan. After the United States entered World War II, he transferred to the United States Army Air Corps in May 1942. After a stint training pilots to fly the B-24 Liberator, he was assigned to fly B-29s in missions over Japan from airfields in China. For each separate bombing mission of the B-29 squadron, fuel and bombs had to be ferried over the "hump" to the airfield, flying from India over the Himalayas in often dangerous weather conditions. Once the bombing mission over Japan was completed, the squadron would then return to India from China to begin the process all over again. Mr. Briel flew 38 of these missions. As well as flying combat and support missions as a B-29 commander in the China-Burma-India Theater, he was later based in the Mariana Islands. At the war's end, he returned to the U.S. and received a regular commission as Major in the USAF. Among his training and development assignments over the next five years was the layout of the flight deck for the B-52, for many years the principal long-range aircraft of the U.S. strategic air arm.
During his service career Mr. Briel was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and a Presidential Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
After leaving the USAF in May, 1950, Mr. Briel became managing partner of the C.D. Whitney Insurance Agency in Millbury. Over the next two decades, the long-time Millbury firm grew from some $500, 000 a year in underwriting to more than $6 million. In 1970, Mr. Briel became owner, President, and later CEO of the Agency, and Chairman of the board, and served the agency during a 48 year career. He was also a Chairman of the Board of Millbury Savings Bank for 28 years and a Trustee for 46 years, a partner in Briel, Jones & Whiting, a President of the Board and Treasurer of Worcester Academy, a President and Secretary of the Worcester Club, and was a member of the St. Wulstan Society until forced to resign due to ill health.
Mr. Briel was very active in civic and cultural affairs - in the arts, human services, and historical and environmental organizations in the greater Worcester area. He was a Corporator of the Worcester Art Museum and a member of the Collections Committee for 19 years, a member of the American Antiquarian Society and served as Director on the Council and the Financial Committee. His other Directorships included the Family Service Organization, Inc.; the District Nursing Society, Inc.; the Performing Arts School of Worcester, Inc.; the Homestead Hall/Goddard House; and the Sharon Art Center, of which he was also a Trustee. His other trusteeships included the Worcester Hahnemann Hospital, the Garden City Waldorf School, Trustees of Reservations, Worcester County Music Association, Old Sturbridge Village, and Salisbury West. He was an active member of many other organizations, including the Audubon Society of Massachusetts and the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, the Worcester Horticultural Society, the Worcester County Mechanics Association, the Sutton Historical Society, the Millbury Historical Society, and the Worcester Historical Museum. He was a member of the Olive Branch Lodge AF & AM, 32nd degree, and an Associate of the Rose of Sharon AF & AM. A keen sailor for many years, Mr. Briel was a member of the New Bedford Yacht Club, the National Maritime Historical Society, Mystic Seaport, and the South Street Seaport (NY).
His beloved lifetime partner, Dorothy Mayne Briel, pre-deceased him in 2008. He is survived by his daughter, Julie Briel Thomas, and son-in-law, Clive R. Thomas, of Paris, France; by his great-niece, Jennifer Fisher Weiss, and her two children, Lindsey and Daniel; and by the many friends whose lives he brightened and enriched, some of whom should be counted as extended family.
There will be a private graveside gathering of a few close friends and family in the celebration of his life. Instead of flowers, donations please, in his name, to the American Antiquarian Society, 185 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609. To leave a special message or memory for the family in Karl's online condolence book please visit:
Read Karl Briel's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
A service summary is not available