Business pioneer dies on boat

By ANGELA GREGORY

A pioneer of the information technology industry, Trevor Eagle, died suddenly at the weekend while entertaining colleagues on his 18m launch in the Hauraki Gulf.

The entrepreneur and one-time representative swimmer, who was 68, collapsed as he climbed on board Virtual Reality after swimming off the southern end of Motuihe Island on Saturday afternoon.

His wife and business partner, Corallie Eagle, said her gregarious husband had been entertaining members of the Unitec Honours Board, which he chaired. Two of their sons were on the boat.

His death had shocked the family because Mr Eagle was fit and healthy despite high cholesterol and an irregular heartbeat.

The cause of death would not be known until after an autopsy but Mrs Eagle said her husband had no history of heart attacks.

The master swimmer regularly worked out at a gym, and swam every week.

Mr Eagle swam backstroke for New Zealand at the Empire Games in Auckland in 1950.

One of the country's wealthiest people, Mr Eagle had a fortune estimated at $26 million in National Business Review's rich list.

Mrs Eagle said her husband was innovative and creative. He started his career as a manager with Woolworths in the early 1960s then worked for IBM for seven years and eventually managed its Auckland branch.

In 1969, Mr Eagle started Prime Computer, the forerunner of Eagle Technology, of which he was the chairman and managing director. He also chaired the High Tech Council.

Mr Eagle is survived by his wife and three sons and three daughters. His youngest son, Heath, died aged 20 in a car accident in 1991.