By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Louis A. Hellming was known as "Mr. Insurance" to friends and associates.

"Insurance was his life - he had 50 years in the insurance profession," said a friend, Ruth Pritchard of Covedale.

Mr. Hellming died Thursday of emphysema at the Hospice of Cincinnati in Blue Ash. He had been living at the Deupree Community in Hyde Park. He was 84.

Mr. Hellming was born in Cincinnati in 1918. He graduated from Woodward High School in 1936 and earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Cincinnati in 1945.

In 1942, he entered the insurance business as an underwriter with the American Insurance Co. In 1945, he joined A.W. Shell & Co., which later merged with the Kreidler Agency to form a commercial insurance agency. He had been treasurer, vice president, executive vice president, president and chairman of the board before his retirement in 1982.

At that time, he formed his own company, the Louis A. Hellming Co., an insurance and risk-management consultant firm, downtown.

"He lived for business, community and his family," said his daughter, Nancy Anderson of West Chester. He will be remembered "for being such a loving father and grandfather" to her family as well as the Pritchard family.

When Ruth Pritchard's husband, who was also Mr. Hellming's best friend, passed away, Mr. Hellming took on the role of father and grandfather to his friend's family.

"If someone needed advice or help, he was always the man to ask," said Mrs. Pritchard. "He always thought of other people.''

Mr. Hellming was a member of the Society of Risk Management Consultants and was president of the Cincinnati Insurance Board from 1954-'58.

He was also president of Assurex International from 1958 to 1959 and a trustee of Ohio Association of Insurance Brokers.

He was a director of Beechwood Home, Marjorie P. Lee Home, North American National Corp., Pan Western Life Insurance Co., Masonic Life Insurance Co., first Equity Insurance Co., Glendale Cemetery Association, Silverwood Farms Inc. and Shepherd Farms.

He also served two terms on Indian Hill Exempted Village School Board; was a member of Ohio Presbyterian Homes Foundation; a former member of the board of the American Cancer Society; former director of Cincinnati Union Stockyards; and member of the Bankers Club of Cincinnati, the Kenwood Country Club and the Queen City Club.

He was a trustee, deacon and elder at Knox Presbyterian Church in Hyde Park.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include a brother, Clifford K. of Anderson Township, and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Dicken Hellming, and a son, Robert L. Hellming.

A memorial service is at 2 p.m. today at Knox Presbyterian Church, 3400 Michigan Ave.

Memorials: Children's Hospital Diabetes Research, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati 45229-3026, or the charity of the donor's choice.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com