{{Short description|Swedish Navy officer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = | name = Cay Holmberg | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Cay Hake Holmberg | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|3|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = Gothenburg, Sweden | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|6|16|1933|3|27|df=yes}} | death_place = Stockholm, Sweden | burial_place = | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | allegiance = Sweden | branch = Swedish Navy | service_years = 1957–1992 | rank = Senor captain | service_number = <!-- Do not use data from primary sources such as service records --> | unit = | commands = {{HSwMS|Södermanland|J21|6}}<br>{{HSwMS|Östergötland|J20|6}}<br>Berga Naval Training Schools<br>Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission | battles = | battles_label = | awards = | memorials = | spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced --> | relations = Filippa Reinfeldt (daughter)<br>Fredrik Reinfeldt (former son-in-law) | other_work = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = }}
Senior Captain '''Cay Hake Holmberg''' (27 March 1933 – 16 June 2025) was a Swedish Navy officer. Holmberg graduated from the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in 1957 and began his naval career as a sub-lieutenant. Over the years, he underwent various training programs and held positions of increasing responsibility, including commanding destroyers and serving as a strategy teacher. He represented Sweden at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea for an extended period. In 1987, he became head of the Navy Weapons Inspection and was promoted to senior captain. Later, he served as head of the Swedish contingent at the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in Korea, where he held the acting rank of rear admiral until December 1991. Overall, his career spanned several decades and included significant international service.
==Early life== Holmberg was born on 27 March 1933 in {{ill|Johanneberg Parish|sv|Johannebergs församling}} in Gothenburg, Sweden,<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Szabad |editor-first=Carl |title=Sveriges befolkning 1970 |edition=Version 1.00 |year=2002 |publisher=Sveriges släktforskarförb. |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9187676311|id={{LIBRIS|8861349}}}}</ref> the son of managing director Cay Holmberg and his wife Lilly (née Bengtsson). He passed ''studentexamen'' in 1954.<ref name="Jönsson (2000), p. 508">{{cite book |url=http://runeberg.org/vemardet/2001/0508.html |editor-last=Jönsson |editor-first=Lena |title=Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 2001 |trans-title=Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 2001 |year=2000 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9172850426 |id={{SELIBR|8261515}} |page=508}}</ref>
==Career== Holmberg graduated from the Royal Swedish Naval Academy in 1957 and was commissioned as a naval officer and appointed acting sub-lieutenant in the Swedish Navy the same year.<ref name="Jönsson (2000), p. 508"/> He then served with the future ambassador {{ill|Lave Johnsson|sv}} on the minesweeper {{HSwMS|Landsort|54|6}}.<ref name="Lidén (1998), p. E1/19">{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1998-03-24/SVNY/19 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Marinstrateg djupdyker i folkrätt |first=Erik |last=Lidén |page=E1/19 |date=24 March 1998 |access-date=28 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Holmberg completed anti-submarine warfare training in the United Kingdom in 1962,<ref name="Jönsson (2000), p. 508"/> and was promoted to lieutenant in 1965.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/65665/gupea_2077_65665_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1969 |year=1969 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682754}} |page=412}}</ref> Holmberg underwent the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College's staff course between 1966 and 1968 and the Swedish National Defence College's management course.<ref name="Jönsson (2000), p. 508"/> He was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1970.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59414/gupea_2077_59414_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1971 |year=1971 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=418}}</ref>
Holmberg commanded the destroyers {{HSwMS|Södermanland|J21|6}} and {{HSwMS|Östergötland|J20|6}} between 1971 and 1972<ref name="Lidén (1998), p. E1/19"/> and was promoted to commander in 1972.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59644/gupea_2077_59644_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1980 |year=1980 |publisher=Liber |location=Stockholm |isbn=91-38-05350-0 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|33682761}} |page=391}}</ref> He served as a strategy teacher at the Swedish Armed Forces Staff College from 1974 to 1977.<ref name="Jönsson (2000), p. 508"/> Then he had the opportunity to represent Sweden at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea for a total of 50 weeks between 1974 and 1982.<ref name="Lidén (1998), p. E1/19"/>
In 1978 Holmberg became head of Section 2 in the Eastern Military District,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59644/gupea_2077_59644_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1980 |year=1980 |publisher=Liber |location=Stockholm |isbn=91-38-05350-0 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|33682761}} |page=367}}</ref> and in 1981 chief of staff at the East Coast Naval Base.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59700/gupea_2077_59700_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1981 |year=1981 |publisher=Liber |location=Stockholm |isbn=91-38-06008-6 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682762}} |page=401}}</ref> In 1982 he became chief of staff of the Berga Naval Training Schools.<ref name="Sköldenberg (1982), p. 419">{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59728/gupea_2077_59728_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1982 |year=1982 |publisher=Liber/Allmänna |location=Stockholm |isbn=9138067307 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682763}} |page=419}}</ref> Holmberg was appointed head of the Berga Naval Training Schools from 1 October 1983.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1983-06-04/SVNY/15 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Militära chefer |page=15 |date=4 June 1983 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Four years later, on 1 October 1987, Captain Holmberg became head of the Navy Weapons Inspection (''Flottans vapenslagsinspektion'') in the Naval Staff.<ref name="Spiegelberg (1990), p. 115">{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59828/gupea_2077_59828_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Spiegelberg |editor-first=Christina |title=Sveriges statskalender 1990 |year=1990 |publisher=Allmänna |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=913812291X |id={{SELIBR|3682769}} |page=115}}</ref> He was simultaneously promoted to senior captain.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1987-06-27/SVNY/13 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Sten Swedlund |editor-first=Barbro |editor-last=Hultman |page=13 |date=27 June 1987 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
[[File:Keps AM.085142.jpg|thumb|Cap worn by Holmberg in Panmunjom, South Korea 1991–1992.]]
In February 1990, Holmberg was appointed head of the Swedish contingent at the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in Korea. Swedish officers in international missions can be given a higher rank, whereby Holmberg had the acting rank of rear admiral during his service in Korea until 1 December 1991.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1990-02-24/SVNY/17 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Nya militärchefer |page=Del 1/17 |date=24 February 1990 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The service was extended and in total he served in Korea from May 1990 to February 1992.<ref name="Lidén (1998), p. E1/19"/>
==Other work== Holmberg was a member of the Swedish Society for International Affairs (''Utrikespolitiska samfundet'').<ref name="Jönsson (2000), p. 508"/>
Holmberg has been a law of the sea expert at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and has represented the Swedish government in law of the sea negotiations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1985-03-26/SVNY/6 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Lennart Bodström: Vi skänker inte bort fiskevatten |first=Hans O |last=Alfredsson |page=6 |date=1985-03-26 |access-date=19 October 2023 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
In July 1981, he was elected chairman of the ''Marinlitteraturföreningen'' ("Marine Literature Association").<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1981-07-17/SVNY/11 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Cay Holmberg |page=11 |date=17 July 1981 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
In 1987, on the initiative of, among others, Holmberg the naval association {{ill|Flottans män|sv}} local association was formed in Haninge. The formation was a "spin-off" from the main association in Stockholm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://flottansman.se/haninge/om-foreningen/ |website=www.flottansman.se |title=Om föreningen |access-date=8 March 2024 |language=sv}}</ref>
Holmberg was chairman of the Association of Men of 1933 (''Föreningen 1933 års män''), an association for men born in 1933.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arsforeningarna.se/1963_ars_man_brev.pdf |title=Bäste Herr Kommendörkapten Erik Ygge |website=www.arsforeningarna.se |publisher=Sällskapet Årsföreningarna |first=Jan |last=Svensson |date=1997 |access-date=8 March 2024 |language=sv}}</ref>
==Personal life== Holmberg got engaged to Ulla Molin in Stockholm on 3 January 1958.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1958-01-04/SVNY/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=FÖRLOVADE |page=2A |date=4 January 1958 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> They had six children,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1972-09-24/SVNY/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=FÖDDA |page=2a |date=24 September 1972 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> of which one child died at under one year of age.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1966-02-06/SVNY/2 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=DÖDE |page=2A |date=6 February 1966 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Their daughter Filippa Holmberg was married to Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt from 1992 to 2013.
In 1989, he married Louise Hadorph (born 1943), the daughter of Carl Hadorph and Lilli (née Jacobsson).<ref name="Jönsson (2000), p. 508"/>
==Death== Holmberg died on 16 June 2025 in Stockholm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ratsit.se/19330327-Cay_Hake_Holmberg_Stockholm/rlU2e6NtGpR0qU04TXuaKckfc9Qi4b8T8a0l6P6a0A4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626171016/https://www.ratsit.se/19330327-Cay_Hake_Holmberg_Stockholm/rlU2e6NtGpR0qU04TXuaKckfc9Qi4b8T8a0l6P6a0A4 |website=www.ratsit.se |title=Cay Hake Holmberg |archive-date=26 June 2025 |access-date=26 June 2025 |language=sv}}</ref> The funeral service was held on 12 September 2025 in Gustaf Adolf Church in Stockholm.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |last=Reinfeldt |first=Gustaf |user=gustafreinfeldt |postid=DOgkqbgDILC |date=12 September 2025 |title=Cay Hake Holmberg, 27 mars 1933 - 16 juni 2025 |trans-title=Cay Hake Holmberg, 27 March 1933 - 16 June 2025 |language=sv |location=Stockholm |access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>
==Dates of rank== *1957 – Acting sub-lieutenant *19?? – Sub-lieutenant *1965 – Lieutenant *1970 – Lieutenant commander *1972 – Commander *1979 – ''{{ill|Kommendörkapten med särskild tjänsteställning|sv}}'' *1984 – Captain *1 October 1987 – Senior captain *1990 – Rear admiral (acting rank){{efn|Cay Holmberg had an acting rank of rear admiral as head of the Swedish contingent in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission from 1990 to 1992 but was senior captain in the Swedish Navy.}}
==Awards and decorations== * 50px {{flagicon|Sweden}} Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences Medal of Merit in silver (2001)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.koms.se/beloningar-och-stipendier/medaljer/ |publisher=Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences |title=Kungl. Örlogsmannasällskapet utdelade medaljer i guld och silver |access-date=8 September 2023 |language=sv}}</ref> * 50px {{flagicon|South Korea}} Order of National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal (1992)<ref name="SvD (1992), p. 9">{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1992-04-14/SVNY/9 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Cay Holmberg |page=9 |date=14 April 1992 |access-date=29 September 2022 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref> * 50px {{flagicon|South Korea}} Korean Service Medal (1992)<ref name="SvD (1992), p. 9"/>
==Honours== *Member of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences (1969) (corresponding member)<ref>{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59414/gupea_2077_59414_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1971 |year=1971 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=989}}</ref> *Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences (1982)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1982-06-17/SVNY/19 |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Cay Holmberg |page=19 |date=1982-06-17 |access-date=19 October 2023 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
==Bibliography== *{{cite book|date=1986|first=Cay|first2=Per|id=LIBRIS: [http://libris.kb.se/bib/7616613 7616613]|isbn=9171826998|language=sv|last=Holmberg|last2=Sevastik|location=Stockholm|publisher=Utrikespolitiska institutet|title=Östersjön - fredens hav?}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --> *{{cite book|date=1983|first=Hans|first2=Nils|first3=Cay|id=LIBRIS: [http://libris.kb.se/bib/346733 346733]|language=sv|last=Elger|last2=Andrén|last3=Holmberg|location=Stockholm|publisher=Centralförb. Folk och försvar|series=Försvar och säkerhetspolitik, 0347-7703|title=Rymden och havet}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --> *{{cite book|date=1968|first=Cay|id=LIBRIS: [http://libris.kb.se/bib/21432187 21432187]|language=sv|last=Holmberg|publisher=Kungl Örlogsmannasällskapet|title=Öresund ur internationell och strategisk synvinkel}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator -->
==Footnotes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{S-start}} {{S-mil}} {{Succession box | title = Berga Naval Training Schools | years = 1983–1987 | before = Christer Söderhielm | after = Tomas Lagerman }} {{Succession box | title = Navy Weapons Inspection | years = 1987–1990 | before = Johan Bring | after = None }} {{Succession box | title = Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission | years = 1990–1992 | before = Finn Werner | after = Leif Nilsson }} {{S-end}}
{{auth}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmberg, Cay}} Category:1933 births Category:2025 deaths Category:Swedish Navy captains Category:Military personnel from Gothenburg Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Society of Naval Sciences Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences Category:Knights First Class of the Order of the Sword