Karen Olsen Beck

Rita Karen Olsen Beck (born January 31, 1933 Copenhagen, Denmark)^[2] is an Danish American-Costa Rican diplomat, politician and social worker. She has served as the First Lady of Costa Rica during the governments of her husband Jose Figueres Ferrer 1954-1958 and 1970–1974, a Legislative Assemblywoman and the Ambassador of Costa Rica to Israel.^[3]

Biography

Olsen was born Rita Karen Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark.^[1] Her parents, Walter Olsen and Karen Beck Olsen, had emigrated to the United States from Denmark and became naturalized U.S. citizens.^[1] She is a native of Yorktown Heights, New York.^[1]

From an early age she exhibited great interest for social issues. While a student at Mary Washington College, now known as the University of Mary Washington, she was involved in several movements promoting solidarity and the defense of the needy.^[4] After graduating from Mary Washington College, Olsen enrolled at the University of Copenhagen to study social sciences.^[1] She then received a Master of Arts in sociology from Columbia University in New York City.^[1]

She married the then-President of Costa Rica, José Figueres Ferrer, on February 7, 1954, becoming the country's First Lady.^[1] Olsen was 23 years old at the time of the wedding, while Figueres was 47.^[1] The ceremony was performed at the home of Figueres' brother, Antonio Figueres, by Archbishop Ruben Odio Herrera.^[1] President Figueres had divorced his first wife, former First Lady Henrietta Boggs, on January 1, 1954.^[1]

With Figueres she had four children, including José María, also president of Costa Rica 1994–1998; and Christiana Figueres, a specialist in environment and climate change, who is the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

References