Ray Bloomfield when he retired in 2018. Photo / File
Ray Bloomfield when he retired in 2018. Photo / File
He listened, he laughed, he loved and he led.
He was Ray Bloomfield - a man adored by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
The legendary Rotorua man of God will be best remembered as the Rotorua Hospital chaplain who comforted people in their final moments and supportedtheir families.
He retired from the role after 26 years in November 2018 but just three months later, was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Ray Bloomfield and his wife of 48 years, Pat. Photo / Supplied
He put up a strong battle but died surrounded by his family on Tuesday morning at the age of 69.
Bloomfield was born in Dunedin and grew up in later years in Auckland. It was there he spied his wife-to-be in a church choir and was dared by a friend to ask her out.
The rest is history and what a history they created.
Five children later, the pair settled in Rotorua in 1986 having spent the previous 14 years together leading a church in Dannevirke and setting up churches in Dargaville, Gisborne and then the New Life Fellowship Church in Rotorua.
Ray Bloomfield adored his family. Photo / Supplied
He was a Justice of the Peace, was ordained a Bishop of the Church of God in 2005, was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in 2008, was a three-term president for Rotary and awarded the club's highest honour - a Paul Harris Fellowship,
Ray Bloomfield with his son, Aaron. Photo / Supplied
One of Bloomfield's five children, Aaron Bloomfield, said his father had a presence like no other.
"He was the king of memes and the dad of all dad jokes. He was just a great big rolling ball of love ... He'd make his way through the hospital and have to stop all the time to embrace or chat with people. It would take 15 minutes just to get to the other side."
Ray Bloomfield with his two daughters Bex and Joanna. Photo / Supplied
Daughter Bex Berge said her father connected with people on their level.
"You couldn't walk into a room without being embraced by him. He loved people and had a big personality but was also aware of people's boundaries and knew when to step forward and step back."
She said it was sad her father had spent a lifetime helping people but never had the chance to enjoy his own retirement.
Instead, upon learning he had terminal cancer, the only way to get more time was to be treated with an unfunded drug.
A the time, friends and family swung into action and created a Give A Little page asking for help to keep Bloomfield alive longer.
Berge said the family was overwhelmed with the support, with the full amount and more being raised.
"People just kept giving and it enabled him to do the treatment but unfortunately it didn't work."
Berge said she was so proud of her father for everything he did, including battling cancer.
"I'm just so happy he is at peace now."
Ray Bloomfield with his girls, wife Pat and daughters Bex and Joanna. Photo / Supplied
Pat Bloomfield said her husband was loving and caring and she described their marriage as a "great journey".
"He always thought about what's best for the family and would have done anything for them."
Ray Bloomfield had a personality like no other. Photo / Supplied
Alison Lamberton, who worked with Bloomfield at the Chaplaincy for more than 10 years said they had a "barrel" of fun but achieved a lot.
"We had a mutual love for Jesus, mutual respect that family came first and mutual love of gong out for coffee."
She said his greatest gift was that he listened.
"He was able to assess their spiritual and emotional needs. I'll never forget him seeing a man who was very ill in hospital and he was dead against having a talk. He said 'no, I'm not interested, I'm not religious'. Ray said 'neither am I, what would you like to talk about?'."
Ray Bloomfield had a larger than life personality. Photo / Supplied
Lakes District Health Board chief executive Nick Saville-Wood said Bloomfield's death would hit the organisation and staff hard.
"Ray was a larger than life and very popular figure at the DHB. He loved his time at Lakes, loved the interaction with staff and patients and his farewell was a huge event, attended by people from all walks of life."
Bloomfield was the first fulltime paid Pentecostal hospital chaplain in Australasia. He served on the executive of the professional body, the NZ Health Care Chaplains Association for 16 years.
Bloomfield's funeral service will be held at the Living Well Church in Biak St on Saturday, April 10, at 1pm. There will be a pre-funeral "open mic" event at the church called "Ray Rave" on Friday from 7.30pm. The funeral will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.
Ray Bloomfield had a smile that would light up a room. Photo / Supplied
