An enthusiast — for motorcycles, underwater hockey, wine tasting and for his city — former Dunedin mayor Jules Radich has been remembered for his energy and presence.
The funeral for Mr Radich, 70, was held at First Church of Otago yesterday.
Family and friends described him as passionate and generous.
Colleagues at the Dunedin City Council reflected on the impact he sought to have as a councillor and mayor, such as by advocating for flooding mitigation in South Dunedin.
On a lighter note, former city councillor Bill Acklin paid tribute by singing a slightly adjusted Hey Jude, reintroducing the "Hey Jules" lyric to the Beatles hit.
Mr Radich was elected as a councillor in 2019, then won the mayoralty in 2022.
He died on Sunday, January 4, after a heart attack the previous day.
Soon after yesterday’s service began, his widow Pamela Walker lit a candle.
Daughter Genevieve Walker-Radich led a series of tributes.
"Simply put, I would say my dad was cool, passionate and smart," she said.
"Dad had a range of interests — fishing, diving, underwater hockey, motorbikes, art, wine tasting and music, to name a few."
He was a natural teacher and a keen learner, Ms Walker-Radich said.
His reach in the community was brought home even while her father was in Dunedin Hospital’s intensive care unit.
"One of the nurses in ICU pulled Mum aside to show her a photo of his family and my dad at their citizenship ceremony last year. He expressed how lovely and welcoming Dad was with his wife and children."
Dunedin deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said the city’s new hospital, being built to the scale the government had promised, would be Mr Radich’s lasting legacy.
He was a strong believer in consensus and inclusion, she said.
"I know he was disappointed not to retain two-way traffic on George St, not being able to help address homelessness through Aaron Lodge, losing the Albany St cycleway debate and especially not getting groynes established at St Clair.
"He worked hard on all of these issues, but he respected the decisions of council."
Flooding in South Dunedin was one example.
Mr Radich would be out in his gumboots filling and delivering sandbags and filming trouble spots, she said.
Immediately after losing the mayoralty, Mr Radich said he was disappointed, but excited to still be at the council table, because he had unfinished business, she said.
Cr Brent Weatherall said Mr Radich "made my time on council bearable and was always wanting to play a team game".
He would sometimes call Mr Radich for a quick chat which often became a long chat, he said.
Friend Paul Templer was part of Mr Radich’s weekly wine-tasting group.
"Jules believed a good wine was a good wine, but a great wine was a good wine shared."
He also recounted Mr Radich’s underwater hockey teams tended to win a tournament in Dunedin, despite him getting the last captain’s picks.
"If you ask him how he does it, he will tell you in great detail with waving of the arms and discussions about tactics ... because Jules is an enthusiast."
Mr Radich started Uptown Motorcycles in 1984, which he ran for 20 years before selling the business.
As the hearse was driven away from the church yesterday, it was followed by a procession of motorcycles.
