Obituaries

In Memorium: Rumsonite, Adventurist, ‘King’ Sorensen

Rumsonite Arthur “King” Holmes Sorensen, died on Aug. 26.

His family and friends gave him a sunrise send-off on the beach on August 28. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Monmouth County Historical Association.

The son of Sverre Sorensen, born in Norway in 1912, and Harriette Arthur Dyer Sorensen, born in Freehold in 1915, he was the first grandson on both sides, so he ended up with the family nickname of King.

The “Arthur” came from Harriette’s father, Arthur Dyer, and the “Holmes” came from Harriette’s brother, Holmes Murphy Dyer, and from Obediah Homes, after whom Holmdel is named.

He sailed, skied, and played tennis. He was a member and former secretary of North Shrewsbury Ice Boat & Yacht Club. He also belonged to the Sea Bright Beach Club, The Seabright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club, and the New York Yacht Club. He was a beekeeper, and liked extracting sweet honey and giving it to friends. He was known for his enthusiasm for life and big heart.

Loved ones of King Sorensen in his obituary

He liked sports in general, and crew, in particular, rowing out of Navesink River Rowing in Red Bank. His favorite race was the Head of the Charles in Boston, but he also raced on the Schuylkill, Housatonic, and Connecticut Rivers.

A mountain climber, King climbed Aconcagua (22, 841’), Mt.Blanc (15,774’), Kilimanjaro (19,341’), Cotopazi (19,300’), Chimborazo (20,500’), Mt.Ranier (14,400’) and, with the entire family, Blue Mountain in Jamaica (7,602’). With Leigh, he also trekked to Annapurna base camp in western Nepal (in 1970, the third group ever); to Gokyo Ri (18,000’) in eastern Nepal (2018), and to the pinnacles on the north side of Everest in Tibet (1983).

King also went in the other direction, bungee-jumping 110 meters from the Victoria Falls bridge in Zimbabwe.

King attended Rumson Country Day School, founded by his cousin, Harriet Clarke, and her husband, Harold. He went to Middlesex School in Concord, MA, and was valedictorian of his 1959 class. King graduated from Williams College and NYU Law School. He worked in Atlantic Highlands for 45 years.

He is survived by: his wife of 52 years, Leigh; their 3 daughters, Jenny, Eliza and Meredith; seven grandchildren, Sophie, Ellis, Spencer, Arden, Sebastian, Jasko Arthur, and Rosie Elizabeth; and his sisters, Sandra Henning and Alicia Robertson.

Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, was entrusted with the arrangements.

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