Jonathan GADSBY Obituary

Loving thoughts with you, Jo, and the family. A great loss and light gone from your lives, but a legacy and life to cherish. All love, Kate

Goodbye, Jon. You were a sparkling talent, and a kind and generous man. I remember the night when you and David got together on the balcony at Doon Street and hatched the idea for A Week Of It; and the desk in the room down the corridor at Radio House where you composed Scourer From Mataura, and brandished the finished product on a cassette, to see what we thought. There were many places, many years ago now. The talent was a given (at university everyone knew you were destined for great things because you were a true original), but you also had the gift of friendships with people who truly cared about you. Lives like yours are too complex for short tributes, but you deserve to be honoured the way you are here. You have a genuine and lauded legacy, you and David pioneered a style of television which is still modern and much-remembered. I have been thinking of you a lot, and others have too, in the past few days. We are terribly sad. We are all fortunate to have known and admired you. The admiration and fondness will endure.

It saddens me that such an iconic kiwi has passed on. As a law student I was at the 1998 125th Law Faculty jubilee and Jon had us all enthralled, he was so so funny. In recent years we would run into each other at various Merivale haunts(mainly JDV)and he was always superb company, a true gentleman, and I always remember how even then people would approach him and want to chat with him, such was his icon status. He was and will always remain a legend in my eyes. RIP Jon

Remember John well at Unicol - A big smile on his face
Merrill Whanau

I have always been a fan of Jon Gadsby. I watched all the TV shows he was in, adored Letter to Blanchy, loved the theatre production in ChCh. A handsome, very talented, intelligent man, who had that something special. I've just listened to an interview he did in 2014.Lovely guy. Feel very very sad that he's gone.

With fond memories of many happy days spent as children in Invercargill.

Our deepest sympathy to you, Sharon, and the rest of the family.

Anne Buttress on behalf of the Fraser Family

I have always remembered a song Jon used to sing, when we were children, that ended: "You are safe little bird; you can rest your tired wings; fly home, fly away". If I remember right, he wrote it too and I can still hear his voice singing it today. RIP, Jon.

Jon brought so much fun and laughter to so many Kiwis. Fondly remembered, and much admired. RIP.

Sorry to hear the sad news love to the family Lost contact with you Sharon but often think about you and family. John was always smiling you keep strong
Love
Cheril

Goodbye Jon, I hope heaven is a really funny place.

Dear Members of Jon's family

I am writing on behalf of all my colleagues at the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago. I had the great pleasure and honour to study with Jon in the Law Faculty. He was an excellent student, full of life, good humour and kindness to his fellow students. He was always larger than life and we always knew he would go a long way. We were delighted that he was the guest speaker at the 125th jubilee of the Otago Law Faculty in 1998. Jon spoke with great passion, dignity and humour about his days at Otago and made the evening incredibly memorable for us all. I know you will miss Jon's giant smile, his wonderful laugh and his turn of phrase. Jon has made a magnificent contribution to New Zealand culture. He enabled us to laugh at ourselves and that is the best medicine of all. I offer my deepest condolences and prayers for you all at this sad time.

With best wishes from Professor Mark Henaghan, Dean of Law and the staff of the Faculty of Law, University of Otago.

Our thoughts are with you all as fond memories come to mind - guitar nights at Hellie's, Akaroa New Years, Merivale lunches and loads of laughs. No doubt AK will be pleased to see a kindred spirit on the other side.

A great loss to Christchurch, loved to watch Jon on tv, in my childhood years. Kind thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Such an inspirational man taken too soon.Thank you, Jon and Eve for our chat on Tuesday last.It was an honour to have those few moments with you. Fly free with the angels Jon. Forever in our hearts. RIP

Remembering your wonderful sense of humour and great wit; your input into the Havelock Fishing Competition as MC and horse racing. R.I.P. Jon my dear friend. Thinking of your family at this time.

Too many memories Jon, starting as a junior floor manager on McPhail and Gadsby with you, Alan and David as my early TV family. The mischievous Jon, much to my horror pretending to insinkerate your goldfish Brian. The caring Jon, who gave me a beautifully handwritten note of support when I was struggling and you were sensitive enough to notice, how you worried about the future of the bright little girl we met in that remote Burmese Village. The annoyingly smart Jon who won every game of scrabble on that Burmese adventure, then brought out the guitar for a singalong every night. But most of all I miss those occasional long lunches we shared over the years and where we swapped war stories from TV shoots and time flew by over lghtbulb jokes and one more drink than was necessary. Arohanui always, Mel xx

Sorry we can't be there to pay our respects but we are in Singapore. Jons great wit will be missed by so many people. We enjoyed many laughs together. Thinking of you Sharon at this time.

Such a talented special man .... im very sad he has gone R.I.P .... my thoughts are with your family

Fly well Jon xxx