Rumson resident and World War II vet Niels Winchester Johnsen passed away at home on Aug. 7 after having spent “busy summer days with grandchildren and children,” his obituary from Thompson Memorial Home said. He was 93.

The son of Niels F. Johnsen and Anita Winchester Johnsen, Neils Winchester Johnsen was born in New Orleans.

He was co-founder, with his father and brother, Erik F. Johnsen, of Central Gulf Steamship Corporation in New Orleans.

After attending Tulane University, Niels began his career in the maritime industry in 1942, having served as an officer in the Merchant Marine at sea during World War II and surviving two ship torpedo singings (stet).

 

After coming ashore in 1946, Niels joined States Marine Lines, a United States flag shipping company chaired by his father-in-law, Henry Dickson Mercer. He served as vice-president of chartering at States Marine in New York until 1957 when he resigned to devote himself to Central Gulf.

From 1957 to 1971, Central Gulf became the major United States flag shipping company operating between the United States and the Middle East/Southeast Asia. In 1971, Central Gulf merged with Trans Union Corporation. Niels became a director of Trans Union as a result of the merger.

In 1979, Trans Union spun off its shipping interests under the name of International Shipholding Corporation and Niels became its chairman.

Throughout his 60-year maritime career, Niels served on: the board of managers of the American Bureau of Shipping; and the board of trustees of the Seaman’s Church Institute. He was also a trustee of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Corporation, a director of the Centennial Insurance Company and a director and chairman of the National Cargo Bureau.

He retired in 2003 as chairman of International Shipholding.

Niels won the Seamen’s Church Institute Silver Bell Award in 1988 and the Admiral of the Ocean Seas (AOTOS) Award in 1993.

He was a member of: India House, Rumson Country Club, Sea Bright Beach Club and Lyford Cay Club. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank-Tower Hill and the Church of the Holy Cross in Vail, Colorado. Niels loved golf and was a long-time member of the United States Seniors Golf Association.

He was predeceased by: his wife, Millicent Mercer Johnsen, on Sept. 7, 2013; and their daughter, Gretchen Johnsen Bryant, on June 18, 2014.

Niels is survived by: his brother, Erik F. Johnsen and his wife Barbara V. Johnsen; his son, Niels M. and wife Marlene; his daughter, Ingrid J. and husband William B. Barrett; seven grandchildren, Lisa J. and husband Michael S. Kane, Christina B. and husband Todd R. Robida, Elizabeth B. and husband Jeffrey T. Gardner, Jonathan W. and wife Carissa S. Barrett, and W. Brooks Barrett, Stephanie A. and husband Ken Moyers, and Heather C. Bryant; twelve great-grandchildren, Steven, Karl and Sofia Kane, Catherine and Benjamin Robida, Davis, Henry and Jack Gardner, Liam Barrett, and Harrison, Hayden and Hewitt Moyers.

A service followed by a reception will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, at the Elberon Memorial Church, 70 Park Avenue, Elberon, NJ.

Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Niels’ memory to the Elberon Memorial Church or Twin Lights Historical Society, Twin Lights Historic Site, Lighthouse Road, Highlands, New Jersey 07732.

— Obituary (edited), courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home