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A hospitality veteran with a raft of celebrity friends died within 30 minutes of an internal haemorrhage.
Jurgen Aurednik had been unwell, but friends and workmates had no idea his condition was deadly.
The 66-year-old was waiting tables on a Friday at the chic Soul bar and restaurant on Auckland's waterfront two weeks ago. The following Sunday, he collapsed and could not be saved.
His wife of 36 years, Vivien, who nicknamed her husband Schatzi, was too distraught to speak, but wrote in a tribute: "You were my life, my light and my strength."
Family, workmates and friends, including Rodney Wayne, Warriors' chief executive Wayne Scurrah and radio personality Leighton Smith, are reeling from his death.
Soul general manager Judith Tabron and operations manager Geeling Ng, also of Dancing with the Stars fame, remembered a flirty, hard-working professional who made the hospitality industry his career.
Ng says; "He always had a twinkle in his eye.
"He was special."
Tabron, who joined forces with entrepreneur Eric Watson in 2001 to establish Soul, met Jurgen as a 19-year-old in her first job as chef.
Tabron says: "He was the master and I was the young one."
Close friend of 31 years, Chris Smith, said Jurgen shared a meal and bottle of wine with his wife every night after work, whatever the time.
"He had three passions in life - Vivien, work and golf.
"He was a lover of food, and he was a fantastic chef."
Known as a "groover grandad" by young waiting staff, Jurgen was often asked for relationship advice.
Austrian-born, he came to New Zealand in 1974 to manage Auckland's Inter-Continental Hotel.
After that he owned his own restaurant and worked at many of Auckland's fine dining establishments.
