Niels Aaboe Obituary

Niels Aaboe, 65, died on Monday, April 17, 2023, at his home in Manhattan. He leaves behind his wife, Susan Elizabeth Raitt, and stepdaughter, Ana-Francisca Beatriz Raitt Meneses; sister, Kirsten Aaboe, and husband Tom Hope, and Kirsten's sons Tyler and Sam Alexander; sister, Anne Aaboe; brother, Erik Harris Aaboe, and wife Celia Kimball; as well many more who loved him. Niels's highest priority was family. He met Susan when he was in his late forties, and saw her as the light of his life. He wooed her with intelligence, kindness, and dry wit. One of the main reasons she married him was the fact that he caused her to double over with laughter. As time revealed his loyal and steadfast nature, he became her rock, a pillar of devotion and dependability. Niels and Susan's daughter, Ana, formed a deep and solid bond, delighting one another by speaking in accents, imitating cartoon characters (think Deputy Dawg), and laughing over their own jokes and silly songs. They shared a love of language and clever turns of phrase. Fatherhood came naturally to him and brought him much joy. Niels was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, the youngest of Asger Hartvig Aaboe and Joan Armstrong Aaboe's four children. Asger was a mathematician and historian of science at Yale and Joan was a medical technologist. Known as "Tee" to family and childhood friends (for "Teeny Baby," according to family lore), Niels grew up in North Haven, Connecticut, where he regularly returned to the family home. His love of story was inspired by a vast collection of Tintin books, which his father would ship from Europe while on sabbatical. Despite physical distance, the four Aaboe siblings have remained tightly bonded and were in regular communication. They laughed hard, shared political views and loved good food. When they were all in one another's company, it was as if an energy force formed around the four of them, the whole greater than the sum of its parts. As a boy in North Haven, Niels began forging abiding friendships. Alex Bell and Donald Shannon became his closest friends, as they cruised their neighborhood, leaving teenage mischief in their wake. As adults, they lived in different states but maintained their strong ties through shared travels and regular visits, fortified by beer and Modern Pizza. Niels graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in English. He worked in his chosen career of publishing for more than forty years. Beginning as a college U. S. history textbook editor, he worked for numerous publishers, most recently as Senior Acquisitions Editor at Global Pequot/Lyons Press, where his focus was sports, political science and U. S. history. Niels brought his keen intelligence and learning to bear on his work. He savored effective writing and was liked and admired as a kind and generous colleague. Niels became a New Yorker not by birth, but by choice. Working briefly as a concierge in the early '80s, he developed a grasp of all corners of the city. The New York Times was his newspaper and in it he discovered the latest, greatest places for food and entertainment. He was an early adopter of Levain Bakery, Fabrique, Company, and Coppelia, among many others, and he recommended these places to his grateful family and friends. Not one for small talk, Niels was precise and careful in his use of language, and when he spoke, people listened. He had an astute grasp of politics and had strong opinions, many of which were published as letters to the editor in the Times. He delighted in the sport of crafting opinion pieces, which showcased his quick, sharp wit and mastery of the pithy phrase. He found humor in so much of life, and that humor was infectious and irresistible. Niels was a natural athlete, playing football and lacrosse in his younger years and landing on basketball as his primary sport. According to his gym buddies, he was an incredible basketball player for any age. He found an ideal athletic partner in his beloved dog, Dory. She loved to catch the ChuckIt! ball that Niels threw tirelessly for her in the parks of northern Manhattan, another story that found its way into the pages of the Times. The family would like to extend gratitude to all of the doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff who took part in Niels's care over the past several months. It was of great solace to us that he was so well taken care of. We know that he, too, was deeply grateful for the care he received. Our loss feels staggering, but we are comforted to have so many fond memories to carry us through. Rest in peace, dear Niels. To to the family or in memory of Niels Peter Aaboe, please