Karl Th. Birgisson dies at 62

Editor and writer Karl Thorberg Birgisson died in the early hours of September 16 at the age of 62, mbl.is reported. He had suffered from long-term health problems.

Birgisson was born in Reykjavík on October 8, 1963, to homemaker Stefania Magnúsdóttir and master painter Birgir Thorberg Björnsson. He graduated from Reykjavík Junior College in 1983, where he took his first steps in journalism as editor of the school newspaper.

After graduating, Birgisson moved to the United States and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from DePauw University in Indiana in 1986. He gained political experience there as an aide to Donald Riegle, a Democratic senator from Michigan. He later pursued postgraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington.

Birgisson had been closely connected to the social democratic movement since his teenage years. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party and joined the Social Democrats’ Alliance in 1983, becoming secretary-general of its parliamentary group. After that party ceased to exist, he worked for the Social Democratic Party’s parliamentary group and wrote for its newspaper, Alþýðublaðið. In 1987, he became an information officer at the Ministry of Finance.

After returning from further time in the United States, Birgisson turned to journalism. He joined Pressan in 1992 and became its editor the following year. He later edited Heimsmynd and Austurland, wrote and presented commentaries for Ríkisútvarpið, worked at Blaðið and served as editor of Eyjan for a year.

He also founded Herðubreið, first as a magazine and later as an online publication. He wrote for Stundin and Fréttablaðið, and lived in Spain for a considerable period.

Birgisson was managing director of the Social Democratic Alliance from 2002 to 2005. For several years, he hosted the programme Orð skulu standa on RÚV. He also wrote numerous books, mainly about politics, as well as poetry and a children’s book with his daughter Steinunn Jenný. He also worked as a translator.

He is survived by his three adult children, Stefán Thorberg, Magnea María and Steinunn Jenný, and two grandchildren.