Heinrich A. Toepfer has died. The German shipping veteran passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at his home last Friday aged 86, according to a note from his family.
Toepfer founded Toepfer Transport in 1974 after leaving his father’s shipping and grain business.
He built up the Hamburg-based company from a bulk chartering house into a leading German shipbroking company.
The note from Toepfer Transport read: “He loved to travel and with his openness and humour he was able to win good contacts all over the world.
“He retired in 2001 but until the end came almost daily to the office.
“He enjoyed following the shipping and agricultural markets till the end as well as interacting with the young employees of the company.
“We admire his discipline, honesty and vision with which he led this company.
“We will miss him and will keep him in good memory.”
Toepfer is survived by two sons who still work in shipping, Clemens and Christoph Toepfer. One comment from an old business friend is said to have described Toepfer very well.
"His deep study on the world agriculture and shipping markets as well as world economy was excellent and his comments were extremely frank and honest which were not liked by a lot of persons in our industry but they proved to be correct in the long run."
The funeral will be held this week .
