It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ulf, our warmly loved and highly regarded Club Patron, who died on November 10 aged 83.
Ulf joined the Club through Ray Thomas ( National League Winning Chairman) in early 1990’s. Through his company, Rylock he was the Principal Sponsor of our National League team that made the Finals of the first ever Summer National League in 2006 under Coach Ken Dugdale, helping Wellington United sign top players such as Ian Porteous of Aberdeen, and Graeme Marshall (All White) from Dunedin.
Ulf was a key supporter and contributor to the successful Wellington A League Bid Team in 2007, leading to the creation of the Wellington Phoenix, for which he was a regular contributor, supporter and attendee at matches.
He was a member of the FIFA Under 17’s Women’s World Cup Wellington Governance Committee in 2008 and a Board member, then Patron of Team Wellington, from 2007 for 5-6 years, and also often a team or player sponsor.
As well as Rotary he was a generous member of the Freemasons, who sponsor many young people and their initiatives and a Board member and sponsor of Downstage Theater for many years.
He loved professional Theater and admired professional actors and would often comment that he wasn’t too keen on some of the amateurs sometimes seen on Newtown Park.
Although unwell at times in recent years he would still love coming to Newtown Park to watch Wellington United and enjoy a glass of wine and a chat with club members.
He was an avid fan of the Swedish Football team and enjoyed recalling his personal memories of watching the 1958 Final played at Rasunda Stadium near Stockholm, where a young 17 year old called Pele scored twice in a Brazil 5-2 win over the host country Sweden.
The club extends its deepest sympathies to his family and surviving children Kym and Markus, with his life to be celebrated at the Harbour City Funeral Home Chapel, 674 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt on Tuesday, 16 November at 11.00am, thereafter interment at Akatarawa Cemetery.
