Karin Sundstedt Kuenstler

May 9, 1951 - January 16, 2022

Karin Sundstedt Kuenstler, died at home on Sunday, January 16th after a short battle with Ovarian Cancer. She was 70. Karin was born in Flemington, New Jersey, and moved to Philadelphia in 1969 when she attended Drexel University as an undergraduate majoring in interior design and visual expression. Thus began her longtime affiliation with Drexel: Karin joined the faculty of Nesbitt College in 1982, was later promoted with tenure, and then served as the Head of the Department of Design. Upon her retirement, Karin was granted the status of Professor Emeritus and stayed engaged with the faculty and students of Westphal School of Design up until her passing. Karin loved to travel, especially to visit her extended family in Sweden. Throughout her life, she traveled to Sweden many times, beginning with a formative summer she spent there when she was 16. She also enjoyed teaching abroad, and taught courses for Drexel students in London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Berlin. She made a special point to take her daughters abroad whenever she could, and was known for seeking out interiors and exteriors far and wide. Karin was the proud mother of and survived by her twin daughters, Zoe and Alexa Kuenstler (Emily Widra), her sister Anne-Sofie Mortimer, her nephew Axel Mortimer, and niece Kirsten Mortimer. She was predeceased by her parents, Yngve Sundstedt and Brita Karlsson Sundstedt. Karin’s memorial service will take place later this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Karin’s memory to the Antoinette Westphal School of Design at Drexel University online at giving.drexel.edu/Kuenstler or by mail at Drexel University, Institutional Advancement, PO Box 8215 Philadelphia, PA 19101-9684.