Kirsten Grete Studlien.
Kirsten Grete Studlien.

Kirsten Grete Studlien, 44

Kirsten Grete Studlien was born in Boston on October 30, 1980. She died both suddenly and unexpectedly at her Boston home on January 24, 2025. She was the beloved daughter of Gene and Susan Studlien, beloved sister of Maren Studlien, and beloved owner of her sheltie, Lincoln.

Kirsten grew up in Concord. She graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School and Harvard University, where she was an editor of the Harvard Crimson. As a student, she was a passionate perfectionist in everything she did. She also loved classical music and was a proficient flautist. She performed frequently in the U.S. and in Europe as a member of orchestras at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. She loved travel. Family trips to Australia, New Zealand, France, and England gave all of us wonderful family memories.

Kirsten’s career was one of public service. In New York and later in Washington, D.C., she worked primarily on public-private partnerships, management of large-scale mixed-use developments, and creation of affordable housing opportunities.

Her experience included the redevelopment of the Washington, D.C. Convention Center area and the creation of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, which has implemented mixed-income housing opportunities along the length of the Anacostia River. As project director for the Washington, D.C. mayor’s office, she managed the negotiation of agreements with private developers for the new Washington Nationals Stadium. She managed the integration of private development with the Nationals Stadium. The district’s success in obtaining approvals to build the stadium relied on the planned adjacent development for both fiscal and urban planning.

When Kirsten decided to return to New England, she was thrilled to be offered a chance to continue public service work at the Boston Mayor’s Office of Housing. She devoted herself to development and enforcement of affordable housing opportunities, overseeing development projects from beginning to end, including community outreach, public financing and land disposition.

Kirsten loved her work and her family. Frequent family visits featured countless Clue games of many vintages, reruns of family trips, and outings with Lincoln. We love her and will miss her deeply.

Kirsten is survived by her parents and sister, her uncle Vance and aunt Phyllis Studlien of Bucyrus, Ohio, and numerous cousins.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visiting hours from 4-7 p.m., Friday, February 7, in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street. Kirsten’s funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 8, in the chapel of Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Kirsten’s honor may be made to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or offer a condolence in her online guestbook, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.