Bective mourns passing of Bjorn Lofterod

Bjorn Lofterod.

17/06/1949—04/02/2026.

On Wednesday 4th of February a very special and unique Ranger passed away after a long illness.

Bjorn had battled cancer for a number of years and despite the debilitating effect of prolonged treatments he was very keen to return to Dublin this coming summer to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his graduation from Royal College of Surgeons. Unfortunately, this was not to be so but he will be remembered with great affection by his classmates of 1976.

In Bective we are used to lads walking in the gate to play rugby, but Bjorn was somewhat unique in that he had never played rugby when he arrived in Bective, and that in itself is a story.

When Bjorn arrived in Dublin to study medicine at RCSI he already had served notice that he was a very fine sailor. In 1968 he was selected to represent Norway at the Olympic Games in Mexico. He competed with great distinction in the Lazer Dinghy class and it was clear to all that Norway had found another very talented mariner.

Bjorn now had to combine his studies in Dublin with his sailing career and this he did with a serious training programme both in Dublin and back in Norway. He trained as hard and effectively as any modern- day athlete.

In August 1972 the Olympic Games were held in Munich and once again Bjorn was selected to represent Norway and become a double Olympian, a wonderful achievement.

Unfortunately Munich did not work out as well as Bjorn hoped it would and he was very disappointed. He returned to Dublin shortly after the games to get ready for another academic year. His friends in RCSI, a number of them playing rugby in Bective , encouraged him to come down to Bective and see if he would enjoy the game. He decided to do so and a double Olympian walked in the door of Bective.

Is Bjorn Lofterod Bective Rangers first Olympian? I believe he might be.

Playing for Bective at the time were a number of RCSI students including Jonathan Raphael, Tim O’Flanagan, Karl Byrne, Sean Nixon and many more.

One of the very first games Bjorn played for Bective was on the 3rd xv alongside the great Bill Mulcahy, and Bill quickly suggested that Bjorn should be moved up to the 1st xv as his strength and athleticism would be well suited to the team.

Bjorn’s training regime was very similar to the current professional rugby player, unique in it’s time. He became a highly efficient, competitive, and combative second row and made a huge contribution to the 1st team.

When Bjorn returned to Dublin for his final academic year he brought with him a beautiful Norwegian girl called Kjersti. Kjersti was a qualified nurse so while Bjorn studied and played rugby Kjersti worked as a nurse in the Royal Hospital Donnybrook.

On returning to Norway Bjorn and Kjersti got married, moved to a lovely town Son, and began to raise a family of four boys, Simen, Trygve, Anders and Bjorn Robert.

Bjorn went on to become one of Norway’s most eminent Paediatricians.

Bjorn Lofterod was a gifted athlete, had a warm and engaging personality, and always showed genuine kindness to friend and foe alike.

He will be sadly missed.

May Bjorn Rest in Peace.