Jonathan (Jon) Clark died last Friday at his home on Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua, near Port Chalmers, where he had served as island keeper since July 2023.
A social media post by the Quarantine Island Kamau Taurua Community on Tuesday said Mr Clark had a long and deep connection with the island, where he had spent time as a young adult.
The community missed him deeply, it said.
Mr Clark lived on the island in 1985-86 and helped the first keeper the Rev Dave Wilson care for animals, maintain buildings and welcome groups.
"Jon returned to the island as our keeper in 2023 and loved living in, what he described as, paradise.
"Our loving thoughts extend to Jon's whanau, his friends, and the entire island community at this incredibly difficult time."
The post said Mr Clark was found in the island cottage by members of the community on Saturday.
A death notice published in the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday said Mr Clark died unexpectedly at home following a "sudden brain haemorrhage".
Sincere thanks were given to police and the coastguard for their care and compassion.
Former keeper Megan Hughes, who lived on the island between July 2020 and March 2022 with her family, said Mr Clark’s death was a shock.
She never meet Mr Clark in person, but had spoken to him during her time in Dunedin.
"I feel really sad that I didn't get to meet him in person because he was, by all accounts, a really dedicated member of the community," Mrs Hughes said
"I know that he was really highly respected and he was a really cherished member of the community."
The community group were dedicated kaitiaki [guardians] of the island, just like Mr Clark, she said.
"I'm just really feeling a lot of aroha to them at the moment because it must be very, very difficult." — Allied Media
