Celebrating a global legacy: Dr. Helmut R. Sohmen ’66
“Helmut and Anna Sohmen have left a lasting mark on ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and on communities around the world,” said ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ President Jay Hartzell. “Helmut’s belief in the power of education, the arts and civic engagement has shaped — and will continue to shape — generations of students and leaders. We are deeply grateful for his friendship and generosity, which will continue to inspire excellence at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ for years to come.”
An Austrian national, Sohmen graduated from the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Dedman School of Law in 1966 with a master’s degree in comparative law. Holding multiple degrees from institutions in both the United States and Austria, Sohmen joined his family’s shipping enterprise, eventually being named chair of World-Wide Shipping in 1986. Throughout his career, he served as chair of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and president of the Baltic and International Maritime Council, before overseeing the creation of BW Group, a Singapore based holding company for BW Gas, BW Shipping and BW Offshore Limited. In 2014, Sohmen retired from BW Group, following more than 44 years with the company and 28 years as its chair. Today, it holds more than 140 oil tankers and gas carriers and makes up one of the world’s largest maritime fleets.
Beyond his strong industry ties, Sohmen also expanded his connection to his alma mater through decades of dedicated service and generosity. Sohmen served on the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2012, and during the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Unbridled campaign, he served on the Dedman School of Law Campaign Steering Committee and as co-chair of the International Campaign Steering Committee.
“Helmut Sohmen embodied what it means to be a Dedman Law alumnus,” said Jason P. Nance, Judge James Noel Dean and professor of law at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Dedman School of Law. “His dedication created a legacy that empowers students, leaders and legal experts in the United States and across Asia to broaden their perspectives in advancement of legal ethics, clarity and practice. Dedman Law is forever grateful to Helmut for his generous contributions and his unwavering foresight into the future of what legal education can look like at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and around the world.”
Together, Sohmen and his wife, professor Anna Pao Sohmen, established the Sohmen Chinese Scholars Program, which has provided full tuition assistance and living stipends for dozens of Dedman Law students since its creation in 1998. Over the years, the couple continued to make supplemental gifts to further strengthen the scholarship fund and its impact. In recognition of his generous contributions to the advancement of the law school, Sohmen was awarded the 2001 Dedman School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2002, the couple expanded their support of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ through the Helmut Sohmen Endowed Professorship in Corporate Governance within the Edwin L. Cox School of Business and were jointly awarded ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s prestigious Mustang Award in 2012, honoring their extraordinary philanthropy to and impact on the University.
“I’m proud to have known and worked with Helmut in support of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s mission for many years. He was a deeply respected and influential trustee, especially for his work creating and supporting international opportunities,” said Board of Trustees member and former chair Robert H. Dedman, Jr. ’80, ’84. “He opened countless doors for students to pursue their professional dreams without the barriers of financial limitations, inspiring them to become future leaders and to one day make a similar impact on the world.”
Beyond campus, Sohmen’s contributions spanned the globe with years of service in Hong Kong as a member of both the Legislative Council and the Basic Law Consultive Committee and as the chair of both the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Review Committee. His support of learning was expansive, including multiple scholarship programs, foundations and endowed university faculty and leadership positions at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, the University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His contributions to the arts included his acting as chair of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and his support for the Hong Kong Philharmonic’s performance at the Wiener Musikverein concert hall in Vienna, as well as the creation of the prestigious Helmut Sohmen Composition Prize.
Sohmen is survived by his wife, Anna Pao Sohmen; his children Michèle, Andreas and Philip, and their spouses James, Doris and Candace; and nine grandchildren.