Joe Horvath receives his Icon Award in 2014. PHOTO/FILE
Joe Horvath receives his Icon Award in 2014. PHOTO/FILE
The founder of an iconic Rotorua late-night eatery has been remembered as a "charismatic ladies' man" who was always telling stories, giving advice and sharing his home with others.
Jozsef (Joe) Horvath, who set up Joe's Diner in the 1950s, died last night while a passenger taking "one last drive around Rotorua". He was 82.
Mr Horvath spent decades in Rotorua after migrating from Hungary.
His youngest daughter Zinka Herewini-White told the Rotorua Daily Post her father was always telling a story.
"The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about him is that he talks heaps.
"He loved his customers, his life was all about that diner... Reading all the comments and tributes about him on Facebook makes us cry... He loved Rotorua, he never wanted to leave."
Ms Herewini-White said her father died while having his last trip around the city.
"He always told us you won't go far without a smile and lived by that. He said he wanted to go out in style and we believe he did."
Close family friend Frank Grapl said Mr Horvath was a local icon, beloved by many.
"A lot of people loved him. When we put up a Facebook post saying he had passed, all the tributes starting flowing, it reached thousands of people who had stories to tell about the good, usually drunken, early mornings at his diner.
"The old fulla used to always be there, chatting away, telling all his stories."
Mr Grapl said he had grown up knowing Mr Horvath, who moved to New Zealand from Hungary around the same time Mr Grapl's father moved from Czechoslovakia.
"Joe was like a second father to me. He used to always say 'what is your name' and you would tell him, then he would say 'okay, I will tell you a story'. That's when you'd run because those stories never ended," Mr Grapl laughed.
"He was very charismatic, very charming with the ladies - every woman was beautiful in Joe's eyes."
Mr Grapl said Mr Horvath loved his big family, including nine children, and always opened his home to people.
"What I will miss the most is his friendliness, pride and generosity. He had such a warm heart and his door was always open. He was a father and grandfather figure as well as a friend and brother.
"You could go to Joe with any problem and he would have 10 solutions for you. When you would go to his house, he would have Hungarian goulash ready to share.
"He proved to be a great ambassador for Rotorua and was so proud of the city and its people. He was a big believer in people of all cultures coming together and believed Rotorua was the way forward."
Joe Horvath (left) and artist Chris Newman in front of the Chorus Mural box on the corner of Ranolf and Devon streets in 2014. PHOTO/FILE
Mr Horvath was "immortalised" in the Chorus box mural on the corner of Ranolf and Devon Sts, painted by local artist Chris Newman.
"People have been tooting on their way past or stopping and sharing their favourite stories about Joe and his diner, you don't see that at any other Chorus box mural."
Mr Horvath was recognised with the Rotorua Hospitality Icon Award in 2013.
His funeral will be held at 10am Friday at the crematorium on Sala St, followed by a celebration of his life at the Rotorua Citizens Club. All are welcome.
