New Zealand ad industry mourns loss of Saatchi & Saatchi Wellington typographer Eric de Vries
December 4 2011, 12:37 pm | | 12 Comments
The ad industry is mourning the loss of Saatchi & Saatchi Wellington typographer Eric De Vries, a highly experienced spearfisherman, who died off the Kapiti Coast yesterday.
De Vries, 52, was married and the father of two teenage sons and a 24-year-old daughter.
Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Nicky Bell and Livia Esterhazy, general manager in Wellington issued a statement today:
“We are devastated by the news of Eric’s passing.
“Eric was an amazing guy, one of the last true gentlemen, hugely talented and passionate about his work, his family and his diving.
“Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, our close team in the Wellington office and those in Auckland who knew and loved Eric.
“We will miss him dearly.”
12 Comments
Eric was the one of those rare gems you get to experience in a lifetime. Talented, calm, genuine, always ready with a smile and he truly was a gentleman. It was a great pleasure knowing this wonderful man. He will be greatly missed by many. x
Eric you will be missed!
You were a huge part of the Saatchi family, and an even bigger piece of the Wellington Saatchi team. There will be a large void in our lives now that cannot be filled.
The pleasant manner, the helpful nature and the great talent is something that cannot be easily replaced.
My thoughts go out to your family in this very hard time.
“Het is niet hoeveel je doet, maar hoeveel liefde je in het doen”.
You always put the do in doing and for that I thank you.
A very, very sad loss. All our thoughts go to Eric’s family and colleagues.
A genuinely great guy.
Eric was unique. Everybody loved him. A wonderful colleague and a wonderful man. My very heartfelt condolences to Joanne, Rose, Jules and Alexander for your enormous loss.
Very Sad News indeed, it was an absolute pleasure working with you when i did, my heart goes out to you and your family.
Eric was a friendly geniune guy, kind and caring. Im sorry to hear this loss. Thoughts to the family and colleagues.
Such a good, good man. Endlessly polite, tirelessly hardworking and always smiling, even at 3am on a pitch. The kind folk at Saatchi were so fortunate to have had the pleasure of his company for almost thirty years.
He will be missed greatly by the Wellington ad industry.
So incredibly sad, working with Eric was such a highlight of my time at Saatchis in the 90s. A truly genuine and talented man who was always happy and cheerful, and so wonderful to be around. RIP Eric, so many people will miss you.
Dearest Eric,
Thank you from everyone who knew you, thank you for always being the cheery and kind face in the mornings at the beginning of my career. Thank you for the warmth, the talent and the unpretentious, wonderful soul, whom we are all so lucky to have known.
I’m devastated to hear of this tragic news and my thoughts are with your family, friends and everyone who was blessed to know you and will feel this great loss.
To have life taken away far too early is one of the cruelest things.
xxxxx Lil Viv
Eric, you’re smile and beautiful attitude were infectious, and I am truly honoured I had the pleasure of getting to know such an amazingly talented and wonderful soul. My deepest condolences to your family and friends in such a devastating and surreal time.
xo
Eric, my brother, I will miss you. I was privileged to work with you closely for 27 of the 30 years I knew you. I will miss our chats, our daily coffees, our camaraderie, our laughs and our 3am pitch gripes. You were a gentleman and a friend. No more pitches. Rest in Peace.
I still can’t believe you’re gone Eric. You will be forever missed. Rest in Peace.
http://phoebejsmith.tumblr.com/post/14962442391/dear-eric
Phoebe xx