Johan Martin Ferner, Princess Astrid’s husband of 54 years, - TopicsExpress



          

Johan Martin Ferner, Princess Astrid’s husband of 54 years, passed away early this morning in Oslo at age 87. Johan was born on July 22, 1927, as the youngest of three children. He attended business school in Oslo before studying at the London Polytechnic Institute, Bradford Technical College, and the University of Lyon. Upon his return to Norway, he joined his father in managing the men’s clothing store Ferner Jacobsen, where he would spend the rest of his career. Johan was also an active sailor and won a silver medal for Norway at the 1952 Olympics. In the early 1950s, King Olav hired him as a sailing instructor for his daughters. Princess Astrid was especially interested in the sport, and she became one of Johan’s regular sailing partners as well as one of his closest friends. Johan married Ingeborg Hesselberg-Meyer in 1953, but the couple divorced in 1956, and over the next few years, Johan and Astrid fell in love. King Olav was reluctant to allow a marriage because of Johan’s divorce, but he eventually gave in, and an engagement was announced in 1960. It was met with a storm of controversy and criticism, but the couple were married on January 12, 1961. Johan is survived by his wife, Astrid; five children, Cathrine Ferner (Arild) Johansen, Benedikte Ferner, Alexander (Margret) Ferner, Elisabeth Ferner, and Carl-Christian (Anna-Stina) Ferner; and five grandchildren, Sebastian Johansen, Madeleine Johansen, Edward Ferner, Stella Ferner, and Benjamin Beckmann. The royal house released the following statement: “It is with deep sadness that we have received the news that Johan Martin Ferner has passed away. Our thoughts go to Princess Astrid and her family, who have lost a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather.”
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 05:18:31 +0000

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