A city family has paid tribute to a 'beloved' city businessman and charity trustee who died suddenly at home.
Eaton man David Mackie, 77, passed away suddenly from an aortic embolism on May 17.
Mr Mackie was best known most recently as the founding chairman of The Ivy Child Charitable Trust, a fund that supports young people in Norwich and Norfolk, supporting those less fortunate as well as providing grants for the community infrastructure.
His son Ian Mackie, Conservative county councillor for Thorpe St Andrew and former town mayor, paid tribute to his late father: "Dad was one of those Norfolk characters now sadly lost, with an encyclopedic knowledge of local history, people and environmental facts.
"He worked incredibly hard throughout his life, always willing to help others, but he also lived his life to the full, enjoying nothing more than collecting chestnuts in the autumn or enjoying fish and chips in Sheringham with the family.
"He leaves a huge hole in all our lives, especially my mother’s, as they were an inseparable and devoted couple for 58 years."
Born on May 10, 1947, David John Mackie grew up in Norwich, where he attended Earlham High School and took on an apprenticeship in industrial heating and engineering.
He spent several years working with various firms managing large projects in Norfolk, such as the Bacton onshore gas station, County Hall and Prospect House.
In 1984, he started a plumbing and heating business, with major contracts at the then Eastern Counties Newspapers, Norwich Consolidated Charities and various large estates across Norfolk.
Mr Mackie married his wife Christine in 1966 at St Mary’s Church, Earlham, and together they made a huge donation to Norfolk charity Nelson's Journey in 2013.
Just before he passed away, a grant was awarded to the Big Boom! Young Carers at the Benjamin Foundation to fully fund a group of carers to have an outdoor adventure holiday.
His other love was supporting Norfolk’s churches, including Intwood and Keswick, Thorpe and the ancestral church of Weston Longville.
He loved all things Norfolk, enjoying the changing seasons of the Norfolk countryside, country pursuits, sea fishing, a regular coastal visitor as well as enjoying the Royal Norfolk Show.
His son, Ian, added: "He was a devoted and loving husband to my mum, Christine, and a loving uncle and great uncle to Vinnie and Reggie.
"He will be dearly missed by all his friends and family".
Mr Mackie's family and friends gathered for a private funeral last week.
A donation has been made to the East Anglian Air Ambulance in his memory.
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