The American Academy in Berlin mourns the passing of founding chairman Henry A. Kissinger. We offer heartfelt condolences to his wife, Nancy, his children, David and Elizabeth, and to his extended family and innumerable friends.

The American Academy’s debt to Dr. Kissinger is profound. Present at the institution’s founding, in 1994, he was instrumental in setting the Academy’s course over the following two decades. He mentored Academy founder Richard C. Holbrooke—who made no secret of his indebtedness to the former Secretary of State—and helped bring scores of the foremost political and intellectual figures to speak at the Academy.

In gratitude for his support and in recognition of his extraordinary place in the history of the last century, the Academy created the Henry A. Kissinger Prize, which since 2007 has been awarded to an outstanding European or American figure for their contribution to the transatlantic relationship. The prize counts among its recipients Helmut Schmidt, Helmut Kohl, George H.W. Bush, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, James A. Baker, III, Angela Merkel, Samantha Power, and, most recently, on November 10, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who called Kissinger “a great man, a passionate transatlanticist, and a very skilled diplomat.”

Dr. Kissinger generously gave of his guidance, intelligence, wisdom, and unfailing humor to our young institution. He will be greatly missed.