C. Soren Holmberg

C. Soren Holmberg

Claes Soren Holmberg, age 84, passed away peacefully at home on February 8, 2022.

Soren was a true connoisseur of dark bars, designer menswear, live music, power naps, spy novels and quiet corners of loud parties. If you were among the fortunate to encounter Soren, you were certain to walk away believing the rumors that Soren was the original inspiration for The Most Interesting Man in the World advertising campaign.

Being an immigrant from Sweden was paramount to who Soren was. He took great care and pride in educating and explaining the nuance of all things Swedish: the red color of the Dalahast, the importance of Fika or the story behind the three crowns. He proudly flew the Swedish flag, relished any chance to speak Swedish whenever the opportunity arose and would become uncharacteristically choked up when presented with anything quintessential Swedish. He loved it all.

While Soren attended universities of Iowa and Minnesota, earned a diploma from Rockford University and a law degree from the University of Toledo, his allegiance was with The Ohio State University Buckeyes, perhaps largely influenced by his lifelong law school friend, Bob Ward (Naples, FL).

A lesser-known fact is Soren's role in pioneering the viral photo. While volunteering as a translator at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, 14-year-old blazer-clad, camera-clutching Soren was captured in the background of a very famous photo showing Emil Zátopek rounding the corner into the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. This photo was shared internationally to spread the news that Zátopek shockingly beat the favorite, British world-record holder at the time, Jim Peter. (Link to the Olympics photo online-https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/olympic-heroes-emil-zatopeks-triple-gold/)

Soren was also ahead of his time when it came to remote workspaces, conducting a considerable amount of preparation, research and law from his car, a stool at a diner counter, clients' living rooms as well as courtrooms. Soren loved the law and was passionate about the truth, integrity and honoring commitments. The diversity in Soren's client base and cases over his 49+ year career was equal to the variety of acceptable payment methods which included – but was not limited to – frozen perch, a refrigerator, neon bar signs and the occasional check.

Soren will be missed, celebrated, and quoted by many – first and foremost by his daughter, Kristin (Steve) DiNolfo of Naperville, IL; son Eric (Valerie) of Akron, OH; his three grandchildren, Emily, Matthew, and Noah; his sister, Lil Elisabeth Holmberg (Myrtle Beach, SC); and longtime main squeeze, Sharon Lange. He was preceded in death by his father, Claes Holmberg; and his mother, Ethel (Ullmanan) Holmberg.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to send a donation in memory of Soren may make a gift to the charity of the donor's choice.

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