Northstar Travel Group, the parent company of TravelAge West, is saddened to share the news of the passing of Robert (Bob) Christian Carlsen, who was part of the TravelAge West editorial team for many years. He is survived by his wife and children, as well as his sister, myriad extended family members and longtime friends and colleagues.
Passionate about the written word from a young age, Carlsen was an editor long before joining TravelAge West. He edited the newspapers at his middle and high schools, then majored in film and journalism at San Francisco State University; he edited the newspaper there, as well. A stint in the San Francisco Chronicle's copy department during college helped land him a post-graduation internship at the Newhall Signal, a newspaper in Southern California, and work at other publications, including TravelAge West, followed.
Being part of the travel industry brought Carlsen great joy and professional fulfillment.
"Robert was a true colleague, in the sense that we could count on him for collaboration and professionalism on a day-to-day basis," said Laura Del Rosso, who worked alongside Carlsen when he was on the TravelAge West editorial team. "He thoroughly enjoyed working in the travel industry and with the travel agent community, and he kept up with his former colleagues and people in the industry even after retirement. We were lucky to share many work trips in the U.S., and around the world, as colleagues representing Northstar. He will be missed."
Ken Shapiro, former editor-in-chief of TravelAge West and current senior vice president and content director of the retail group for Northstar, has long known of the impact Carlsen had on the magazine he would go on to lead himself.
“Robert played an important role in the success of TravelAge West," Shapiro said. "He was very knowledgeable and greatly respected throughout the industry — especially among fellow writers and colleagues.”
Shapiro expressed his gratitude for Carlsen and the time he dedicated to TravelAge West, and the entire Northstar Travel Group team shares its condolences with Carlsen’s family and friends.
Editor’s Note: Select details from this story were sourced from the San Francisco Chronicle.