RONALD Gatty – the philanthropist, author, sailor, explorer and widely known as the son of the Prince of Navigators Harold Gatty – has died, aged 85.

Born in California on July 9, 1929, Mr Gatty died peacefully at his Wainadoi home on Sunday December 28 after being bedridden from October 10, shortly after his three-month visit to the United States with his personal caregiver Senikaile Tunisau.

Fiji’s Father of Spice was said to have been cheerful during his last days, continuously surrounded by his wife Dr Janette Gatty, Spices of Fiji manager and confidant George Hazelman and the caregivers.

In an interview at their home yesterday, Mr Hazelman recalled Mr Gatty’s last days – in fact, his last 30 minutes when he last spoke to them on Sunday, asking them not to take him to the hospital because he preferred to die at home.

He said that even to his last days, Mr Gatty was still adamant of regaining strength just so he could complete his dreams.

One of his dreams was to complete his 14 books – one each for the 14 provinces in Fiji to be titled Tribes of Fiji. He has completed more than 2000 pages of this quest – only minor editing and captioning to be done before it hits the press.

Another of his dream was to make the spice business a major industry in the country.

The third was to donate to old peoples’ retirement homes because he felt the elderly were not appreciated; and the fourth was to support towards animal awareness and welfare.

According to Mr Hazelman, Mr Gatty would often talk about his love for animals and his belief that if human beings could learn to love animals, they would love humans better. “The thing I admire about him is he always speaks his mind. As a boss, he was very straightforward. As a husband, he does admit to me that he was a lousy husband – always career-oriented and they didn’t have thoughts of having children; and as a person, he talks openly about his mistakes,” Mr Hazelman said in an interview.

Having worked and living with the Gattys for more than 10 years, he said Mr Gatty was more like a father to him, and he learnt a lot from the this multimillionaire.

“One thing I learnt from this couple is their carefulness with money. He would tell me that he made his own fortune and he accumulated his wealth by saving and making the right decision,” he said, recalling their Christmas lunch at a restaurant in Suva where Mr Gatty remarked that they should have only ordered for one serve fish and chips and share it because it was a big serve.

“They lived simply and they would only go to the restaurant once a fortnight.

“He has also taught me to be consistent and achieve what you’ve set your minds on.”

Known by avid readers of his column in The Fiji Times titled Spices from Wainadoi as a sharpshooter who does not dress his words, which almost him got him deported during Sitiveni Rabuka’s government, Mr Hazelman said such was his personality – he would say as it is.

Mr Gatty will be laid to rest in a private funeral on Friday.