Biography

LT Karl Steimle was born in Providence, R. I. and attended La Salle Academy. He participated in football, cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track. He was all-state in cross-country, track, and state champ in the mile. Karl entered URI on a track scholarship in 1958 and graduated in 1962. At URI he participated in and was the captain of cross-country, indoor and outdoor track. He enrolled in the ROTC program and was a member of Theta-Chi Fraternity, Scabbard & Blade, and the Rhode Island Club. 

Upon graduation, Lt Steimle was assigned to the Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Virginia where he attended a food service supervision school. His next assignment was with the Eighth Army, in Bupyong-Dong, Korea located between Seoul and Inchon. As the Civil Affairs Officer, his area of responsibility included the City of Inchon, and six townships encompassing a 2600 square mile area with the most northern township abutting North Korea. His duties included liaison between the city and towns and responsibility for 60 orphanages and administering the Armed Forces Assistance Program. He was also responsible for arranging Community Relations Advisory Council meetings to discuss mutual problems. Another Civil Affairs function was delivering pharmaceuticals to Inchon and the six townships. He established a warm clothes drive with his family in Rhode Island collecting hundreds of pounds of clothes for needy Korean families.  

Karl’s civilian career began in microfilm sales with the Eastman Kodak Company in New Jersey, his sales territory being upstate New York. After being transferred to Newark, and spending four years there, he was hired by a municipal bond firm. In 1971, he was hired by the Industrial National Bank (now the Bank of America) in their municipal bond department. In the 1970’s, he became the department’s municipal trader and underwriter and was promoted to vice president. Karl’s final position was branch manager for the New York City municipal bond firm of Roosevelt and Cross where he stayed until his retirement in 2002. 

Karl devoted countless hours and money to aid wounded warriors directly through an Army program.  He also fabricated golf clubs so wounded veterans could play golf and donated them to an Army program.  Karl owned a golf dome to which he gave free access to the URI golf team. Karl is a member of the Twin Eagles community rotary club, which is a satellite of the Naples, Florida rotary club involving acts of humanitarian kindness in Southwest Florida. One such project is fundraising for the blind. Another recent project was picking up bread and pastries from Public’s grocery stores and delivering the boxes to St. Mathew’s House, and the Salvation Army.  Another project is providing dictionaries to all third graders in the Naples school system.  Karl continues to stay in touch with the Rhody sports programs.  The University continues to be a part of his annual giving. 

Karl is married to Kathleen and they reside in Naples, Florida. They have three children; Brian, Michael, and Michelle. He plays golf three days a week, and really enjoys family visits. He and Kathleen enjoy gardening, travel, and playing cards with the local residents. 

Lieutenant Steimle’s outstanding leadership as well as his devotion to the military, his service to his community, and the University of Rhode Island, reflect great credit upon himself, his family, the United States, and the University of Rhode Island.