Generous, kind, well-loved, one of the good guys, a wonderful husband, charming, wise, thoughtful, nice, caring, positive, a lovely, lovely man, were just some of the terms of affection said about Ian Paterson, a leading Rotarian whose funeral was held at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul on 6 August. His older brother Archbishop John Paterson, who led the service, added ‘respected and trusted by so many’ to the list of accolades. Rotarians from the Port Nicholson Rotary Club formed a guard of honour as his coffin was carried from the church after a service which recalled the many contributions Ian had made to family life, to his profession of real estate and particularly to Rotary and the community. Ian was awarded a Queens Service Medal in 2016 for his philanthropy, and proudly had two sapphire pins (1999 and 2010) and a ruby pin (2018) added to his Paul Harris Fellowship.
Born in Taihape Ian joined a Rotary club in Wanganui aged 22, and working at the time for rural services company, Wright Stephenson’s he developed his skills in auctioneering which he used throughout his life often to raise money for good causes. He established the successful real estate agency Just Paterson in Wellington and joined the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson soon after it was formed in 1989, becoming President in 1993/94. Ian was a consummate fundraiser for both Rotary and other causes, particularly in later years for the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. Ian was involved in every charity auction run by his beloved Port Nicholson Club going back over twenty years. At his final club auction in 2017, he was thanked profusely and described as “the charmer, enticing another bid, getting you to reach into your pockets, and to spend a little more than perhaps you had wanted to spend or intended to spend. “It’s all part of the skills of an auctioneer, but it’s more than just the tricks of the trade, it’s about applying a skill and a charm that Ian has in pursuit of good causes. “As far as the (Port Nicholson) club is concerned Ian is Mr Auction. Without him, without his services, without his drive, without his enthusiasm, and indeed without his, to use an over-used word, passion, much of what we have done in this club over the last 25 years would not have been achieved. “And those contributions went well beyond auctioneering. He was a generous contributor to club causes and a mentor and inspiration to many.
“He was popular, effective, and in demand. Having him at an auction event was a drawcard such was his charm and appeal as an auctioneer. “He brought honour and respect to himself, to his club, and to the Rotary movement. At a very practical level, he has brought funds into the coffers of good causes. “He was an outstanding Rotarian, a model of giving service to the community, a good man doing great work for others, and an exemplar of service above self.” He was 72.