Once homeless Rotorua man leaves legacy of helping others

Once homeless himself, Gerard Kelly had been volunteering helping others at Love Soup before his death. Photo/File

There's a patch of a wall at Rotorua's Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist Church that remains unpainted.

And according to Pastor Tata Strickland, it will stay unpainted as a tribute to a man who died on Monday after falling from a ladder at the church days before.

His name was Gerard Kelly and since word of his death has spread, Pastor Strickland says he has found out just how many Rotorua people Kelly helped out.

"Gerard became involved with my family about five years ago and, as a result, became part of our church family. I am not too sure about his life before we met him.

"When we met him he was transient and sleeping in his car. He'd stay with my brother-in-law in Taupo, or my mother-in-law in Kawerau, or another family member in Tauranga."

Pastor Strickland said about two-and-a-half years ago his wife suggested Kelly shift into a room adjoining the church.

"He treated the church like his own home. He' do lots of fixing, painting and mowing, his work was immaculate."

Often Kelly would rise early, do his chores and then be gone for the day. The Stricklands were never sure where he was but since his death, many Rotorua people had told the pastor Kelly had done this and that for them.

Pastor Strickland said while Kelly had a law degree, something he had learned from Kelly's brother following his death, he didn't believe in the system and didn't want to rely on it.

"He was a very clever man, you could sit and talk to him for hours, he was a kind and generous man and he had a great sense of humour."

Kelly also volunteered his handyman services at the Love Soup hall. Love Soup co-ordinator Gina Peiffer said Kelly had connected with people at Love Soup as he had been homeless himself.

"He was a lovely man who had lots of ideas for our hall," she said. "I understand he had become disillusioned with the law at some stage and had been happier volunteering his time to help others."

His death notice asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Love Soup ... "a cause dear to Gerry's heart".

Occupational Health and Safety are investigating the incident that resulted in Kelly's death but Pastor Strickland believes a medical event may have caused the fall that resulted in a brain injury.

Kelly's family had gathered in Rotorua and, according to Pastor Strickland, had been saddened by his death.

"As are we. We will miss him."

A funeral service was held at Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist Church yesterday.