Halvor Christian Heyerdahl Kielland, 78, passed away Thursday March 6, 2025, with his loving family at his bedside. He had been battling MDS for ten years and recovering from a bone marrow transplant in October 2024. His kind and stoic nature always shone through.
Halvor Kielland
Born June 12, 1946, to Aggie Margaretha Heyerdahl and Knut Kielland in Oslo, Norway. Halvor adored his two sisters, Aggie Kielland Blom (Fredrik) and Brit Knutsdatter Kielland, who died tragically in 1954. Growing up surrounded by family instilled a deep sense of belonging and a love for his family’s Norwegian heritage. Hieronymus Heyerdahl was a signer of the Norwegian Constitution in 1814 at Eidsvoll and his Great Grandfather, Hieronymus Heyerdahl was mayor of Oslo who is associated with the development of the current City Hall. Halvor especially loved nature and sports, specifically Skiing, Orienteering and Bandy creating a lifelong love of the outdoors. As a young person he would go on cross-country ski treks hut to hut for a week at a time covering hundreds of kilometers.
After High School and before his undergraduate studies he completed his service in the Norwegian Army’s Officer School, earning him the rank of Second Lieutenant. He went on to complete his undergraduate studies in marketing and social sciences, additionally taking shipping courses at the Oslo Shipping Academy. His passion for shipping took him from Oslo to London and then New York.
In 1973 while in New York he met the love of his life, Sherri. He stole her heart when they first met in Gracie Park, offering her a box of strawberries in gratitude for keeping an eye on his freshly wrapped shirts from the laundry. Eight months later, after a trip to Oslo for Christmas and meeting the extended family, he proposed. The deal was sealed when the couple was married in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania June 1974.
In 1976 they moved to New Canaan, Connecticut, a month before their firstborn, H. Christian Heyerdahl Kielland, Jr. Two years later, their daughter Alexandra Brit Collings Kielland was born. Halvor was ever present, championing his children’s teams on the weekends, tumbling in leaf piles, sledding, and loving the numerous family vacations. When the children were younger there were also annual trips to Norway to know their cousins and enjoy his Norwegian family and friends. As adults there have been less frequent trips but equally meaningful.
Halvor spent the last 26 years of his more than 40 years in his shipping career with Charles R. Weber in New York and Greenwich, as a partner and retiring in 2012. In the later years of his career, he enjoyed and was always available for mentoring younger colleagues. Many of whom have commented on how appreciated his guidance had been. His keen knowledge of the industry, steady moral compass and trustworthiness earned him the respect of colleagues and clients globally. His smile, kindness, and sense of humor were his trademark.
Halvor regularly kept in touch with his closest friends from his teenage years in Norway. They call themselves GIFH or the “Boys from the Sea”. This year they celebrated their 60th anniversary. He frequently returned home multiple times a year to gather with friends and family, especially marking special occasions. In the US, he was a loyal friend to many. He maintained a close connection to friends through travel, golf, sailing, his love of the outdoors, and so many memorable social occasions. The New Canaan Winter Club, Utes, Country Club of New Canaan, where he could be regularly seen playing golf or cross-country skiing in the winter, Oslo Golf Club, American Chapter, Fiske Lubben and NAS were all near and dear to his heart. Halvor had an incredible zest for life and “can-do” attitude. A man could not be more loved! He will be remembered for a multifaceted, great life well-lived. Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Halvor is survived by his Wife of 50 years, Sherri(nee Collings), his two children and their spouses, Christian (Pua Mench) of Stowe, VT and Alexandra (Nick Zerzan) of Norwalk, CT, five grandchildren who meant the world to him, Charlie, Ellie, Vivie, Sybil and Jack, his sister Aggie Kielland Blom(Fredrik) of Oslo, Norway, his Brothers in Law Clifford Collings(Carolyn) of Virginia Beach, VA, Charles Collings(Liz) of Gladwyn, PA., Sister in Law Helen Collings of Radnor, PA as well as his many wonderful nieces and nephews on both sides of the Atlantic.
A Celebration of Life will be 11:00am EDST on May 31, 2025, at the Congregational Church of New Canaan, 23 Park Street, New Canaan, Connecticut. 06840. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Halvor’s name either to Fred’s Team at Memorial Sloan Kettering for Cutting Edge Research or Country Club of New Canaan Foundation. For online condolences please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com