Harold was born in Trenton, N.J., and raised in Metuchen, N.J. He graduated from Rutgers University – New Brunswick, N.J., with a degree in mechanical engineering. He took four years of ROTC and received an award as the top ROTC student. Because of World War II, his studies were accelerated and he entered the Army at the beginning of 1943, where he remained for nearly four years, attaining the rank of captain. His two years in the European Theatre began in North Africa and the southern France invasion. After returning to the U.S. and following his honorable discharge from the military in late 1946, Harold flew back to Europe on one of KLM’s new commercial flights to marry Renee Bonin of Dijon, France, who died in 1997.
Mr. Sonn began his 40-year career at PSE&G in a training program in 1946 and became a sales engineer. He advanced through various positions including vice president in 1970 and senior vice president in 1976. A year later, Harold became president of the PSE&G Research Corporation, where he led the company’s involvement with solar energy, landfill gas, large scale battery development, electric vehicles, wind power, and other alternate energy programs. However, despite the “hype” of that time for the renewable energy sources, he cautioned against unrealistic expectations and predicted that it would be many decades before these other sources would be significant.
Harold was the CEO of PSE&G which, just before his retirement in 1986, he reorganized with the formation and naming of the Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG). He then became its first CEO. At the same time, under Harold’s jurisdiction, the final phase of the company’s nuclear construction program was ended with the completion of the Hope Creek Generating Station.
In addition to Harold’s engineering degree, he also earned an M.B.A. from Rutgers and a degree in thermodynamics from City University France, a master of science degree and an honorary doctor of engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology, as well as a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from New York University. Mr. Sonn was a director of the Continental Insurance Corporation, The First National State Bancorporation, and the First Fidelity Bank. He also served on the boards of the American Gas Association, Atomic Industrial Forum, Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, Regional Plan Association, New Jersey Utilities Association, the Fuel Cell Users Group, the Edison Electric Institute Advisory Committee and the Electric Vehicle Council Management Committee. He served as president of CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems), member of the World Energy Conference, and director of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce as well as the Greater Newark Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Mr. Sonn was a trustee of the Stevens Institute of Technology, the Foundation of the University of Medicine and Dentistry, the Newark Museum, Seamen’s Church Institute, Thomas Alva Edison Foundation, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the United Way. He was a governor of the New Jersey State Opera and advisory chairman of the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
A licensed professional engineer, Mr. Sonn was a former chairman of the New Jersey Energy Research Institute and board member of the Institute of Gas Technology and the Gas-Cooled Reactor Associates. He was also the recipient of the Rutgers Engineering Society Outstanding Engineering Award. For many years after retiring, Harold skippered his well known boat, Sonnet, on the Eastern and intra-coastal waterways between New Jersey and his home in Tequesta. In 1998, Harold married Ellin Stellhorn, the mother-in-law of his son, Douglas. Harold and Ellin enjoyed travelling and took numerous trips – often on cruise liners or riverboats – visiting over 70 countries. When not traveling, he enjoyed weekends at his farm in Hope, N.J., where he spent many happy hours, mostly repairing and maintaining the old farmhouse and farm equipment. Harold passed away in 2017 at the age of 96.
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