Waltham's Karl Heinz Muehlmann, Adviser To 4 MA Governors Dies

WALTHAM, MA — Karl Heinz Muehlmann, 81, of Waltham, passed away at his summer home in Wareham on Wednesday, June 17, according to the Wareham Village Funeral Home.

During his career, Dr. Heinz Muehlmann was an economic adviser to four Massachusetts governors, including Frank Sargent, Ed King, Bill Weld and Paul Cellucci. He was also the chief economist for Jobs For Massachusetts, Inc, and Associated Industries of Massachusetts. One of his enduring public legacies, according to his obituary, was that he created the economics behind Massachusetts Proposition 2½, which limits property tax assessments and automobile excise tax levies.

Heinz Muehlmann grew up in Austria and earned a degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business, according to his obituary. He also had a deep love for competitive sports, outdoors and skiing.

"Heinz negotiated any triple black diamond slope gracefully in blue jeans, his favorite ski pants," reads his obituary.

Heinz also became an ice hockey referee, which led to a role at the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck.

When he came to the U.S. it was to coach the Northern Michigan University ski team, where he also earned a Master of Arts from the School of Graduate Studies. And then taught skiing in New England until he was 33, when he switched gears.

Early in his career, he helped create what became known as "The Muehlmann Report on Economic Strategy," while teaching economics at Bentley University.

He had a number of trophies under his belt, but loved his family more, his obituary said.

"One of Carl's favorite memories is a day, which they started in Wareham catching lobsters in Buzzards Bay before driving to Killington, Vermont, for a day of skiing, and returning to Wareham in the evening. In recent years, Heinz awaited his grandchildren with his boat and fishing rods ready for adventure when they visited Wareham in the summer."

He leaves behind his second wife Brigitte Wundernitz Muehlmann, his children Sonja, Martha and Carl and four grandchildren two brothers and their children.

For information on Funeral Services, memorials and to see his full obituary see the Wareham Village Funeral Home page in his honor.