Hafsteinn Guðmundsson, Flatey farmer, dies at 91

Hafsteinn Guðmundsson, a farmer on Flatey island and former chairman of the Flatey district council, has died at the age of 91, mbl.is reports. He was born at Höllustaðir in Reykhólahreppur on January 4, 1935, and died at Landspítali hospital on August 26.

Hafsteinn grew up with his parents at Höllustaðir and later in the Skáleyjar islands in Breiðafjörður. From a young age, he helped support the household through seal hunting, eiderdown collection and traditional farm work. He attended the itinerant school that travelled between the islands and later studied at the Reykjavík School of Navigation.

His parents were Guðmundur Guðmundsson and Júlíana Sveinsdóttir. Hafsteinn married Ólína Jóhanna Jónsdóttir from Hvallátrar on Seamen’s Day in 1958. Ólína died on January 2, 2024.

After completing his studies, Hafsteinn and Ólína moved to Grundarfjörður, where he worked at sea. Five years later, in 1965, the family moved to Flatey, where he lived until his death. He worked as a seaman, ran a fishing operation, hunted seals, farmed eider ducks and carried out traditional farm work.

Hafsteinn served as chairman of the Flatey district council and held various positions of trust and committee roles connected to Flatey. He also served for several years on the board of Baldur and worked for Orkubú Vestfjarða.

Hafsteinn and Ólína had four children: a boy who was stillborn in 1958, Hafþór, born in 1959, whose daughters are Elísa Hafdís and Hallgerður; Hrönn, born in 1962, whose daughters are Íris and Rán; and Hanna Júlía, who is married to Emil Rafn Jóhannsson and has a son, Hilmar Þór.

Hafsteinn had a deep love of nature and great respect for the wildlife of Breiðafjörður. He knew every bird that visited Flatey and was familiar with all the sailing routes. He was a welcoming host, and he and Ólína always kept their home open to visitors.