Sammy Ofer

A shipping magnate who donated millions of pounds to Maritime Greenwich has died just weeks before a museum wing was to be opened in his honour.

Sammy Ofer, 89, died at his home in Tel Aviv on Friday after a serious illness which his family has refused to disclose.

The billionaire donated millions of pounds to heritage sites in Greenwich, including £20million to the National Maritime Museum and £3.3million towards the restoration of Victorian tea clipper the Cutty Sark.

The philanthropist died just weeks before the new Sammy Ofer Wing of the National Maritime Museum was due to open.

Ofer was believed to be the richest person in Israel, worth an estimated $10.3billion.

Born Shmuel Hershkovitz in Galantz, Romania, in 1922, Ofer immigrated to Israel with his family in 1924.

He served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and later the Israeli Sea Corps during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

The following year Ofer and his brother Yehuda, known as Yuli, joined their father’s chandlery business, starting their own shipping company in the 1950s.

Ofer lived much of his life in Monaco, but returned to Israel in recent years.

In 2008 he was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen for his contribution to British maritime heritage.

Sammy Ofer is survived by his wife, Aviva; his sons, Eyal and Idan; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Councillor Nigel Fletcher, deputy leader of Greenwich Conservatives and spokesman on heritage issues, said: “Sammy Ofer made a huge contribution to preserving and enhancing the maritime heritage of Greenwich, and his generous donations mean he will be remembered for years to come. It’s a great shame he died just a month before the opening of the museum wing that bears his name, but it will now stand as a lasting memorial.”