Donald FRANCIS Obituary

Dear Sarah,
I was saddened to hear of your father's passing. I met Don when I was working for a Wellington law firm for many years. Your father was the consumate gentleman both professionally and personally. I had the pleasure of sharing many a laugh with him. He would always talk about you with much love and pride. It was a pleasure to know Don and I know he was greatly respected in his field. His smile and twinkle in his eyes will remain a treasured memory. My condolences to you and your family. Regards Bernadine Strickland ex RWS staff member.

I was really sorry to learn of Don´s passing, but reflecting on my contact with him over the years has since brought smiles to my face as I recall the good times we shared, both professionally and socially, and a life well lived by him.

I don´t actually recall when first I met Don, but it would have been in the early 1980s. Between then and his retirement he and I worked together on a number of interesting jobs - Cory Wright and Salmon and DFC spring to mind amongst many others -and I definitely learned a lot from him. Don was certainly good at what he and his team did - maybe even pre-eminent in Wellington at the time - but he was more than just a good professional: he was definitely a very principled person, in both his professional and his personal life, and one for whom I had great respect.

I am also not sure when last I saw Don in person but it was definitely well after he moved to Waiheke. Don was definitely on my "must visit when I get to Waiheke Island" list, but sadly I never made it there in his lifetime. Despite it being some time since last we were in the same room, I am pleased that my contact with Don continued either by email or by phone for some considerable time after that, I think until I too retired about 5 years ago. (I have a horrible feeling that I probably forgot to tell him my personal contact details before I left the office for the last time....... Sorry Don!)

While I regret that I never made it to Waiheke Island to visit him, and regret that we weren´t in contact more often in recent years, I have many great and happy memories of Don and will remember him both fondly and with great respect.
Thanks for all the good times Don, and my very sincere condolences to Sarah and family.

Hi Sarah, I was really sorry to hear about your dad. Don was my godfather, I hadn´t heard from him for a long time, but when I was young he would always give me a birthday present on 25 March. I have attached a photo from my christening of Don holding me.