A large gathering is expected on Friday to say a formal farewell to Perth stockbroker and former Olympic medalist Tim Willoughby, who died last week while flying home from a holiday in the US with his family.
A large gathering is expected on Friday to say a formal farewell to Perth stockbroker and former Olympic medalist Tim Willoughby, who died last week while flying home from a holiday in the US with his family.
A public funeral service for Mr Willoughby will be held at the Christ Church Grammar chapel at 2pm on Friday January 18.
Olympians, from the 1930s through to the present day, will form a guard of honour along with a crossed-oars salute by the 1990 Kings Cup Crew, which Mr Willoughby coached.
Mr Willoughby was the president of the WA Olympic Council and the Olympians Club of WA.
He was 53 years of age.
Mr Willoughby was on the flight with three of his four children – two daughters, including Jessica, who is a doctor, and his son, Angus, who recently completed his year 12 TEE studies.
A cardiologist was also on-board, but was unable to save Mr Willoughby, who suffered a heart attack.
He had been in training for about six months, working out in the gym ahead of a planned high-altitude skiing trip with his wife, Anne- Louise.
Mr Willoughby was renowned for his athletic and stock broking abilities, as well as his charitable work.
He was part of the men’s eight rowing crew that won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, having also represented the men’s eight at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.
He also participated in Australia’s defence of the America’s Cup on board Kookaburra.
The Perth broker was due to start work at his new firm, Citi Smith Barney, the day after his scheduled arrival in Perth.
The move was a major one for Mr Willoughby, who spent 20 years working for Goldman Sachs JBWere.
Stockbroker Ron Bennetts, who left Goldman Sachs JBWere for Citi Smith Barney late last year, worked alongside Mr Willoughby for 18 years and said he was an exceptional stockbroker.
“You just have to look at the relationships he has with his clients, some of which span three generations,” Mr Bennetts said.
Citi Smith Barney state manager Garry Giblett said he was shocked by the death of Mr Willoughby.
He said Mr Willoughby devoted a large amount of time to many charities, and his death was a great loss.
A spokeswoman for Goldman Sachs JBWere said the firm extended its deepest sympathy to Mr Willoughby ’s family.
Close friend Murray McHenry said Mr Willoughby was a “straight shooter”.
“A lot of the time it was Tim’s way or no way,” he said.
“He was a very strong, disciplined person but he was soft as butter underneath.
You got the best of both worlds with him.” WA Olympic Council executive director Tania Sullivan said Mr Willoughby worked tirelessly to raise funding to help aspiring Olympians participate at Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
“He has left an incredible legacy in creating an Olympic family in WA,” she said.
Mr Willoughby had been president of the WA Olympic Council since 1997 and played an integral role in raising funds for athletes to compete in the 2000 Olympics, and the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games.
“He couldn’t help but help,” Ms Sullivan said.
“He really believed in the Olympic spirit.
There is no such thing as a former Olympian.
The journey starts when they compete and they remain an Olympian forever.” Mr Willoughby devoted time to several not-for-profit groups over the years.
including serving on the Anglicare Wintercare Appeal Committee, which is made up of a collection of business people who volunteer their time to support Anglicare’s fund-raising efforts.
He was a member of the State Health Research Advisory Council, was involved with the WA Institute of Medical Research and the John Curtin Centre, and was a past chairman of the Perth Wildcats and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay State working group.
