Klaus Mordhorst

Klaus Christian Johann Mordhorst passed away on February 8, 2025 at the age of 85 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Klaus was born in Hamburg, Germany on July 5, 1939 to Herbert and Hanna Mordhorst and grew up in Blankenase overlooking the river Elbe. He made his living in the shipping business and after a few years working in Germany, went abroad in 1960, living and working first in England before being selected to open a new office for a shipping company in Tokyo. In 1967, he left Japan for New York City where at a housewarming party for a friend, he met Vera Holthuis and three years later on May 2, 1970, they were married. After a few years living in New York and then across the river in Tenafly, New Jersey, Klaus and Vera settled in the community of Smoke Rise in Kinnelon New Jersey in 1978, where they raised their two children Johann and Katharina and lived together for 40 years. Klaus loved life in Smoke Rise surrounded by nature, wildlife and many good friends. He enjoyed hiking and exploring the surrounding woods with his children, and rarely missed a summer Sunday of friendly racing on the lake with the Smoke Rise Sailing Club. His love of horseback riding and "cowboy stuff" would take him each spring to Arizona and each autumn to Wyoming for multi-day backcountry group horseback rides.

Klaus had a distinguished career in the maritime industry, first as a shipping broker, becoming the President and principal owner of Leffler Chartering, Inc., and later focusing more on maritime arbitration. He joined the Society of Maritime Arbitrators in 1974 and served as its president from 2005 to 2009.

Travel and the exploration of new places and exposure to new cultures remained a joy throughout Klaus's life and together he and Vera travelled the world near and far from the American Southwest to Alaska, Europe to Asia, India to Australia.

Three years after Vera's passing in 2018, Klaus left the woods of Kinnelon for a return to city life in Philadelphia and to be closer to his son and daughter-in-law. Full of life and eternally curious, Klaus spent the last few years exploring the city on foot, volunteering in his local park and enjoying good food and drink in the course of making new friends. He enjoyed getting to know people and made lasting friendships the world over. The loss of him will be felt by family, friends and colleagues near and far.

Klaus is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Johann Mordhorst and Jennifer Mahar; his daughter, Katharina Mordhorst; his brother Jens Mordhorst; his sister Gesa Cordes and many nieces and nephews.

His family is planning a gathering this spring to remember and celebrate his life