On May 29, 1929, Dr. Hermann Röchling was born into a well-known industrialist family in Aachen. He received his high school diploma in Saarbrücken in 1948. Röchling then completed a traineeship in business administration and studied economics and social sciences in Cologne, successfully graduating in 1953. Three years later, in 1956, he finished his doctoral thesis on “Organ Theory in the System of Cumulative Sales Tax” (original title: “Organtheorie im System der kumulativen Umsatzsteuer”) at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Cologne, thereby receiving his title Dr. rer. pol. (doctorate in social sciences).
In February 2013, the University of Mannheim awarded him the title of honorary senator in recognition of his service to the university. With the creation of the Fontana Foundation, Dr. Röchling especially promoted research and early-stage researchers as well as international researchers in the Department of Economics – the focus never on himself but on those he supported. In this way, he contributed to the high standing of the university’s economic department, now one of the leading faculties both nationally and internationally.
With Dr. Hermann Röchling’s passing, the university loses one of the most important patrons and supporters of scientific excellence. We remain thankful for his work and will honor his memory at all times.