A colleague of retired Napier orthopaedic surgeon James Elliott has described him as a man committed to his work and keen to support, encourage and advise young medical staff with whom he worked.
Orthopaedic surgeon Denis Atkinson, who was stunned to hear his friend and former colleague had died, said Mr Elliott was a skilled and reliable man of medicine.
"He was passionate about his work and did the long hours - but he was always there and ready to cover for you - just a great team man."
Mr Elliott, 66, was found dead in his Hornsey Rd, Napier Hill, home, on Tuesday morning.
He was found by his estranged wife Rosalind who had gone to check on him after he failed to answer calls she made to him on Monday night, and again just a short time before she found him.
He was last seen on Sunday.
The couple were separated but had remained on good terms, and often caught up with each other.
Police immediately cordoned off the property after being called, and had been carrying out intensive scene examinations to help determine what caused Mr Elliott's death.
A forensic examination carried out yesterday revealed he had sustained a head injury.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange said CIB and ESR staff were involved in the scene examinations.
"This may take several days and until that work is done, we cannot confirm any information about how Mr Elliott died," he said.
A family member was reported as saying Mr Elliott may have had an accident.
Mr Atkinson worked with Mr Elliott during stints at both Napier and Hastings Hospitals, and then at Hawke's Bay Hospital.
He had just finished surgery on Tuesday afternoon when he got the news.
"It was a shock," he said, adding that despite retiring about 18 months ago Mr Elliott would still attend medical meetings.
He said Mr Elliott was well read, very knowledgeable and had devoted his life to the pursuit of medicine - something which is set to be continued by his son Rob who is working at Nelson Hospital as part of his training to also become an orthopaedic surgeon.
"He was so delighted, and so proud about that."
Mr Atkinson said Mr Elliott, whose father and grandfather were also in medicine, worked through demanding and changing times in the surgical area, and had helped pioneer many techniques in this country, particularly in joint replacement and trauma (motor vehicle crash) injuries.
He also carried out clinics in Wairoa.
"There will be a lot of people in Hawke's Bay who came under his care, and through his work and teaching and training of new surgeons was well known across New Zealand."
Mrs Elliott, and their three children, were now preparing for his funeral, which is expected to take place at the Napier Sailing Club where Mr Elliott was a keen member for many years.
As well as medicine, he enjoyed taking to the sea, something he particularly relished until recently since retiring after three decades of service in the Bay.
"He was a very keen sailor and very well known at the sailing club - he will be missed," Mr Atkinson said.