When it came to being recognised with the QSM he was typically humble about it and simply said a quiet dinner with the family would suffice as a celebration.
"I think I've made an impact on the local music scene without being too big-headed about things," Mr Thorpe said at the time.
His long-time performing colleague Paul Waring said he had struggled with the news.
"It is very sad - a huge loss - he was such an extraordinary person."
They made a fine double act and back in 2009, when Mr Waring was 82 and Mr Thorpe 87, Mr Thorpe laughed and said his cohort would often refer to him as "a man of many parts ... most of which aren't working now".
"We joined up 41 years ago - I had heard him play and heard about how much he helped people and I thought 'this is marvellous'," Mr Waring said.
He described Mr Thorpe's musical abilities as unique.
"There are many pianists but he was an accompanist - that is rare."
Born in London, Mr Thorpe began tickling the ivories when he was 8-years-old and he was quickly recognised as a natural and gifted player.
He had a music teacher called Miss Banks (a "dear old lady") but only took lessons for two years as by that time she told him there was nothing more she could teach him.
By 1936, and aged just 14, he was the pianist in a jaunty little four-piece band which played the pubs of London and he had to get permission to do so from the police.
One evening stayed in his memory for good.
They were playing in a pub in Ealing, West London, and a delightful young lady who was performing elsewhere and who simply popped in for a quick drink, asked if he would accompany her for a quick song.
She was impressed by the young chap's abilities at the keyboard.
So they did the song although young Eric's fingers were slightly-a-tremble ... the young lady was Vera Lynn.
"It was an occasion I will never forget," he said in an interview a few years back.
During wartime Mr Thorpe was part of the Empire Air Training Scheme and once said he came out to live in New Zealand to what he thought would be a quieter life.
But once his musical abilities were revealed that was not to be.
Away from the keyboard he had worked as a clerk with the Napier City Council.
Mr Waring described Mr Thorpe as a modest man, a private man and a generous man, and it was only six or seven weeks ago that they last got together for a few tunes.
"Like all those who knew Eric, my life has been more fortunate through knowing him - what a huge loss."
Mr Thorpe had lost his wife Pam and had moved into a residential home.
He is survived by two sons and three daughters and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His family said he died suddenly, but peacefully.
"Thank you for the music," they wrote.
