Sammy Ofer z"l
A prominent figure in the international business community and a steadfast supporter of the arts, culture, and education in Israel, Sammy Ofer z"l has demonstrated his belief in the mission of Reichman University from the beginning.
Sammy Ofer was born in Romania and immigrated to Israel in his youth. During World War II, he volunteered to serve in the British Navy and went on to become one of the first to serve in the Israeli Navy, participating in its first commanders’ course after the establishment of the State of Israel. Sammy Ofer’s fondness of the sea commenced during his childhood, when he was a member of the nautical sport organization Zevulun, and inspired him to establish his successful shipping and cruise businesses.
The French Government awarded him the rank of knight in the French Legion of Honor for his assistance to the French shipbuilding industry. A talented entrepreneur, he established an international network of businesses, including the Ofer Group, one of the leading commercial concerns in Israel. His family also controls the Israel Corporation, one of Israel’s largest investment companies.
An avid art collector, Sammy Ofer is renowned for his contribution to the development of art and cultural institutions, particularly to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, of which he serves as a governor. His dedication to Israel’s future and commitment to education are expressed though scholarships to promising students and generous support to educational institutions, exemplified by the Ofer Lecture Halls, which he and his brother Yuli contributed to Reichman University campus, and his assistance to the veterans of the Israel Defense Forces’ elite naval commando unit, whose Education he finances.