Paul Winfrey Hofheinz

Paul Winfrey Hofheinz, a distinguished journalist, thought leader, and intellectual, died on 25 April after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 62.

Paul spent his childhood in Texas, the firstborn child of a prominent family. His grandfather, Roy Hofheinz, built the Houston Astrodome, and his father, Fred Hofheinz, served two terms as mayor of Houston. While Paul was always proud of his origin, he was determined to chart his own path, across the Atlantic in a place he loved throughout his life: Europe.

A Yale-trained historian and scholar of Soviet Studies with a Master's degree from the London School of Economics, his first passion was the Soviet Union, where he worked as a journalist for Time Magazine before the fall of the Iron Curtain. A fluent Russian speaker, he had a lifelong fascination with other cultures, political systems, and economic regimes. But he was always steadfast in his defense of freedom, democracy, tolerance, and humanity. It was this conviction that led him to stay in Russia in the early 1990s, despite the turmoil of the dying days of the Soviet Union, trying to steer the country towards a pluralistic, rules-based system. It was painful for him to see his beloved Russia turn towards authoritarianism under the current regime – something that Paul foresaw long before things took a turn for the worse.

Seeing the potential of a still-nascent but growing European Union in the late 1990s, he decided to relocate to Brussels after a brief stint in Bonn, Germany, where he ran the Europe bureau for Fortune Magazine. In Europe's capital, he made a name for himself at the Wall Street Journal, covering financial markets and regulation.

In 2002, he attended the Central and Eastern Europe Summit of the World Economic Forum in Salzburg, Austria, where he met his future wife, Ann. Benefiting from Paul's entrepreneurial acumen, which he gained from founding and running the publication Central European Economic Review while based in Moscow, the two decided to start a think tank in Brussels with the mission to 'Make Europe Fit for the Future'. Dubbed the Lisbon Council, the organization kicked off activities in the autumn of 2003, leading Paul to dedicate his future professional life to helping Europe advance its performance in technology, innovation, and competitiveness.

A US citizen based in Europe, he competently straddled political debates on both sides of the Atlantic and often had an important mediating role between the two. His ability to bring the right interlocutors together, around the most pressing issues and in an environment of candid but respectful exchange, is unmatched. As a gifted orator and an empowering intellectual, he was a sought-after speaker and valued advisor. Reporting on Paul's passing, Politico described him as a 'Brussels legend'.

In his private life, Paul was a loving and devoted father to his two sons, who both were his center of gravity as he tried to instill his own intellectual curiosity and extensive knowledge onto the next generation. Growing up in a house full of books – from history and the arts to politics and technology - Ann routinely referred to Paul as a 'walking encyclopedia'.

Despite his cancer diagnosis, Paul continued to engage professionally, with great enthusiasm and in full dedication to the Lisbon Council. Two weeks prior to his death, Paul still chaired a fireside chat with John Collison, co-founder and president of Stripe, one of Europe's most successful tech startups. It was a wonderful, special culmination of a successful, multi-faceted, and prosperous life and career.

Paul never gave up hope and fought courageously until the very end. He got a brief respite from the disease when he entered a clinical trial for a phase 1 drug, which worked wonders for six months, in which Paul took his beloved sons on two trips to the United States and the family visited many places throughout Europe which Paul cherished and wanted to visit one last time. It was an invaluable gift for which all family members were incredibly grateful.

Paul died peacefully at UZ Leuven hospital, surrounded by his family. Paul is survived by his wife, Ann Mettler, and sons, Lennart and Aiden of Brussels, Belgium; his loving parents, father, Fred Hofheinz, and wife, Linda of Houston, Texas, and mother, Elizabeth Hofheinz of Austin, Texas, and numerous nephews and great-nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister, Tracey Virginia Hofheinz Montauriol of Paris, France.

The family wishes to thank all nurses and doctors at UZ Leuven, where Paul received world-class, compassionate care. In particular, they extend their gratitude to Prof. Gertjan Rascchaert, Prof. Oliver Bechter, and Dr. Aude Van Oosterwyck, outstanding oncologists who fought tirelessly for Paul's life and comfort, as well as Alexandra Verhagen, who supported the family and Paul in particular in their mental wellbeing on this arduous journey. Deep appreciation also goes to the staff and associates of the Lisbon Council, in particular David Osimo and Tjark de Lange. As one of the co-founders, Ann is delighted that David will go on to lead the organization, which is now in its 22nd year of operation. He and his team will undoubtedly excel and take the organization to its next level and future milestones. Finally, warm recognition and heartfelt thanks go to Lillia 'Lily' Cava, who selflessly helped to care for Paul and was always there for him, even in the most challenging moments.

A celebration of life in loving memory of Paul will be held at the Residence Palace in Brussels on Thursday, 8 May. The family kindly requests that any floral tributes be replaced with donations to a charity in support of Ukraine..