Obituary: Eckehard Schumann - Shoetech Engineering cc (13/11/1945-19/08/2025) - From ships to shoes, and he sailed well in both
Eckehard Schumann still smiling after more than 50 years in the footwear industry.
Durban, KZN, SA – My father was born in Potsdam, Germany, in the aftermath of the Second World War. His father died when he was very young, and his mother fled Germany for a better future in South Africa.
As a German speaker, he was placed in the Afrikaans medium Port Natal School, where he matriculated in 1963.
He went on to the University of Stellenbosch, where he earned a degree in engineering.
Eckehard Schumann as a young man, complete with mariner’s beard.
His first choice of career was as a sailor. He joined Safmarine in 1969 as a junior engineer and worked his way to 3rd engineer in 1971. He then joined Unicorn Shipping where he went onto to complete his shipping career as a 4th engineer.
He changed careers after the first of his children were born, to spend more time with them.
He joined Paul Moeller & Co. in 1972, and remained with them until 2001, representing them in Durban, Johannesburg, and Port Elizabeth.
In 2001 he had the opportunity to buy into Shoetech Engineering cc. After the closure of Shoetech and its replacement by Shoet3ch Consumables early this year, he became my advisor, and he really enjoyed being back in our new premises, back in Pinetown where Shoetech had been.
He leaves his wife, Belinda, and 4 children.
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