Erik Kissmeyer-Nielsen, 89 years old, of Concord MA, passed away quickly and peacefully in Burlington MA, USA, at Lahey Hospital on June 29th at 3pm in the company of family. Erik was born on October 22 1922 in Silkeborg Denmark to Thorgny Nielsen M.D. of Denmark and and Sophia Kissmeyer of Germany. His family had a notable heritage in Denmark that he was very proud of, with his grandfather Anders spear-heading the cooperative farmers movement. He was the youngest of 4 siblings : Kirsten, Flemming, and Knud. He grew up on his family's estate and sanatorium in Silkeborg on a lake and near the sea. Erik loved the ocean and was an avid swimmer, often swimming out for miles. He had fond memories of making the rounds to the fishermen to collect lobsters and other fish that they would give in appreciation/exchange of his father's medical services. In his teen age years, Erik fell in love with auto mobiles and learned all about their workings and took great pride when he finally attained one of his own. When the Germans occupied Denmark, Erik helped in the underground movement with his brother Flemming. He enjoyed telling many harrowing tales of these times. Erik attended the Royal School of Agriculture in Denmark. During this time, and earlier throughout his childhood, he often stayed at his uncle's estate Arnakke. This estate was a working farm that employed many, and Erik enjoyed tending the land and caring for and working the horses and other livestock. He had many good memories of living there, in particular, the elegant meals that were served for all and the lively conversations. Erik departed from his beloved homeland of Denmark for the United States to receive a master of science in bio chemistry at Cornell University, followed by a PhD at University of Wisconsin in Food Science. Erik had many connections while at the university to his professors and advisors and was active in international student groups. He worked to pay for his room and board by acting as the building manager for the apartment building he lived in. During his time at University of Wisconsin, Erik met his future wife Perla Minda Santos from the Phillipines while she was visiting her brother Byriani who was one of his close class mates. It was love at first site and they started a long distance correspondence by letters. After winning her parent's approval, they were Married on September 5th 1962 in Madison Wisconsin, hence joining two families from opposite sides of the world of notable scientists, doctors, and agriculturists. In the initial part of his career, Erik helped to improve and manage production of many of the foods we now enjoy, such as French's mustard, and contributed to making food easy to prepare by his involvement in development projects such as the first instant potatoes. He was a professor at the University of Delaware at the time his son Paul Erik Kissmeyer-Nielsen was born in 1963, and when his daughter Kirsten Yvette Kissmeyer-Nielsen arrived the following year. After a few years in academia, he decided to return to industry and received a consulting position at Arthur D Little in Cambridge MA. After much research into the surrounding area, he selected the town of Concord MA to relocate his family. At ADL, he developed business for the company and performed the research and development on those projects. He moved onto private consulting for food development projects for organizations such as the United Nations, Development Banks, Government Entities, and Monetary Funds. This work brought him to Africa, Europe, Turkey, Greece, Malta, India, Asia, Pakistan, and New Zealand and satisfied his deep need for an international life style that helped others. His family has many fond and exciting memories of visiting him while he was on location. Outside of work, Erik had many interests. He loved dogs of all kinds. He was particularly devoted to his loyal Doberman/Great Dane Troya. Most recently, he enjoyed the company of Snoopy, an adoptee from SaveADog in Sudbury MA, who he noted looked just like the RCA gramophone dog. Erik was very active in his younger days. He was a mountain climber during college and then enjoyed playing tennis with many friends from around the world, as well as ocean swimming and kayaking, particularly on the Cape near the family's summer home in Mashpee MA. He enjoyed playing chess. He would often bide the time by playing solitaire and reading. He was passionate about international affairs and politics and had an incredible grasp and insight of what was happening in the world up until his death. His famous black address book contained the names of all of his family and friends from around the world and he stayed in contact by continuously working his way through the book. One of Erik's only regrets was that he often wished he had become a medical doctor like his wife, father, and many of his relatives.Erik was passionate that the United States should provide health care for all of its citizens. The Supreme Court's support of the Health Care Reform the day before his death was great news to him. He is survived by his wife, two children, four grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and his loyal companion Snoopy - the "best boy in town". His kind and gentle nature, world knowledge, keen observations, loyalty, and wonderful sense humor will be missed by many. Erik's Wake – Sunday, July 8, 4-7pm, Dee Funeral Home (www.deefuneralhome.com)Burial Service, Sunday, July 15 6pm, at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Deee Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.Online Guest Book – www.deefuneralhome.com (with link to legacy.com).Call 978 376 0169 for More Information, or email kirstenkissmeyer@yahoo.com Thank you to his beloved wife Perla for the life they shared together; the many doctors and nurses at Lahey Clinic in Burlington MA who made his last months and days better by keeping him "tuned up"; Danes World Wide who kept him connected to his beloved home land; his daughter Kirsten who got him home; his aid Prudence for her respectful attendance and companionship; the eating establishments he frequented, most notably: Chang An, Rossini's, Cross Roads, and the Wayside Inn; and Snoopy for entertaining him through his days and nites. Please make Donations to SaveADog.com in His Memory, or to Lahey Clinic in Burlington MA Erik was an Independent, Deep Thinker, who was Inspired by the World After Glow I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done, I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and summer days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun, Of happy memories that I leave When life is done. ~Helen Lowrie Marshall (From her book of poetry, Close to the Heart) Cemetery: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Mass. Visitation: Visiting hours in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, CONCORD CENTER on Sunday July 8th from 4 to 7 pm. Service: Burial Service, Sunday, July 15 6pm, at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery