sami ofer

Sammy Ofer was an Israeli shipping businessman who built an international shipping group with his brother Yuli.

1922 to 2011Founding Zodiac Maritime AgenciesControl of Israel Corporation and ZIMDonations to maritime heritage

Born: 22 February 1922, Galați
Died: 3 June 2011, Tel Aviv
Occupation: entrepreneur, ship-owner
Wars: World War II
Founded: Zodiac Maritime Agencies (1976), 1956)

sami ofer was born in 1922 in Galați

Shmuel Hershkovich was born in 1922 in Galați, Romania, to a Jewish family. In 1924 the family moved to Haifa. His father supplied ships, and Ofer worked in the family business after elementary school.

He worked as a messenger boy for a Haifa shipping agency and joined the Haganah. In World War II he served in the British Royal Navy on a minesweeper based in Alexandria. In Israel's War of Independence he served in the Israeli Navy.

In 1950 he bought his first ship. In 1956 he founded a shipping company with his brother Yuli, and in 1976 he founded Zodiac Maritime Agencies. The brothers later held stakes in ZIM, Israel Corporation, Bank Mizrahi-Tfahot and Royal Caribbean.

He gave large donations to the National Maritime Museum in London and to Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa. He lived in Monaco and London and returned to Israel in 2009. He died in Tel Aviv in 2011.

sami ofer's life in 9 milestones

1922
Born in Galați, Romania.
1924
Moved with his family to Haifa.
1950
Bought his first ship.
1956
Founded a shipping company with his brother Yuli.
1976
Founded Zodiac Maritime Agencies.
1999
The brothers bought control of Israel Corporation.
2004
Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa.
2008
Made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
2011
Died in Tel Aviv.

sami ofer served in the military

He was a member of the Haganah and served in the British Royal Navy on a minesweeper in Alexandria during World War II. In Israel's War of Independence he served in the Israeli Navy.