Carl A. Pelzel

Carl Pelzel, a dynamic pharmaceutical executive whose love for adventure, nature, and family defined his life, passed away on January 31, 2025, in Greensboro, NC.

A man of boundless curiosity and enthusiasm, Carl found his greatest joy around a crackling fire, a glass of cognac in hand, his family and beloved dogs nearby, and music—always music—filling the air. From classical compositions to rock and smooth jazz, the soundtrack of his life was eclectic, though it was Kenny G’s Songbird that once inspired him to take up the saxophone. His family was relieved when he gracefully relinquished the stage back to the professionals.

Born the eldest to Carl and Norma, he welcomed his sister Carolyn, or “Caar,” with a heart full of love. Their family was completed by a devoted collie named Rusty. The family shared a love of the outdoors, hiking the New Hampshire mountains and camping throughout the Canadian provinces over many years. When Carl left for Hinkley School in Maine, Caar, missing her brother, found comfort in another faithful companion, Fluffy—a reminder of their unshakable connection. He would go on to earn a B.A. degree from Hartwick College of Oneonta, N.Y., and a master’s degree in natural sciences from the University of Paris.

Carl’s love of nature was profound. Fascinated by wolves, he studied their pack dynamics and came to see family as a similarly bonded unit, held together by love and loyalty. Adventure was a constant thread in his life—whether igniting an ill-advised fire that singed off his eyebrows or embarking on literary journeys through history, economics, philosophy, and science fiction. His first car, a repurposed ambulance, was acquired, he claimed, for its ability to “move through traffic speedily and with permission.”

A seeker of wisdom, Carl was a voracious reader. Books fed his curiosity, but he didn’t just read about adventure—he lived it. He made it his mission to share the beauty of travel, new cultures, and diverse cuisines with his family, ensuring that life was never just observed, but deeply lived.

Adventure was a calling for Carl, leading him through grand explorations and simple joys alike. As a young man, he hitchhiked across Europe, embracing the beauty of the world with open arms. Yet he also found divine wonder in the small things—Sunday mornings scented with apple sugar cinnamon muffins, the alchemy of cooking, the exhilaration of fast cars and motorcycles.

Carl’s professional journey began in pharmaceutical sales and led to a distinguished career during which he launched five major pharmaceutical products that would improve the lives of millions of people around the world. He rose to VP Oncology and HIV for GlaxoSmithKline in Raleigh, North Carolina, before taking on executive roles in London and Hong Kong. At Glaxo, as head of product development, he led the creation of Zofran, a drug used in the treatment of nausea associated with cancer therapy. His career culminated as CEO of Depomed, a California-based company specializing in extended-release pain and neurology medications, including treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Carl married Jan Lumbert in 1976. Together, they built a life filled with love, adventure, family, and, at times, a small pack of Malamutes that pulled sleds through the New Hampshire woods. Their daughters, Jennifer, “Jenny,” and Ashley, grew up amidst a whirlwind of new experiences, whether deep-frying a turkey in the driveway or moving across continents. Through all of Carl’s successes, his greatest challenge came when Jan was diagnosed with cancer. She fought bravely for 13 years, leaving behind a legacy of love and resilience.

As Jan’s journey on this earth came to a close, she and Carl found solace on their horse farm in Liberty, North Carolina, where Carl discovered the joys of raising chickens, incubating guineas, and cultivating an enormous garden. Ever the enthusiast, he shared his bounty—including oversized zucchinis—with friends at church, offering the fruits of his labor with a spirit of gratitude.

In time, Carl found love again with Carolyn Blaylock, a Winston-Salem artist. They married eight years ago, blending their families and adopting another Malamute, Kanook. Together, they traveled widely, exploring new destinations from France to Austria to the coast of Maine, embracing the blessings of love, learning, and adventure. They spent three wonderful years on the farm with each day bringing new joy and discovery of the land’s flora and fauna. Many evenings were spent around a fire sharing life and love and laughter. In 2021, Greensboro became home, where life was filled with art, friends and family.

Sailing remained a lifelong passion, whether navigating the choppy waters of Maine or the turquoise seas of the Virgin Islands. It was on the water that he found serenity, and it is easy to imagine him on heaven’s waters now—sails full, laughter echoing, and love surrounding him.

Carl is survived by his wife, Carolyn Blaylock; daughter Jennifer and Mike Berry and their children Mason, Gray, Alex, and Ryan; daughter Ashley Pelzel and Miles Moen; stepchildren Hope and John and their daughter Riley; Jackson and Nicole and their children Jax, Rita, and Leo; Taylor and Elizabeth and their children Graham and Parker; and Julianne; his sister Carolyn, “Caar,” Pelzel and Bruce McClintock; his brother-in-law Jay Lumbert; and many cherished friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at Mt. Pleasant Church, Liberty, North Carolina on February 7, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Experience Camps for Grieving Children in his memory.

Carl Pelzel lived fully, loved deeply, and left the world richer for having been in it.

February 5, 2025