Robert John Davidson lawyer & Contact

Parents:

• Birth*: Robert John Davidson lawyer & Contact was born on 9 February 1951 at New Zealand, .³
• He was the son of John Fisher Davidson and Noeline Monica Mary Burke.²
• (Groom) Marriage*: Robert John Davidson lawyer & Contact married Keitha Thelma Glossop say 1974 at New Zealand, .⁴
• (Deceased) Death*: Robert John Davidson lawyer & Contact died on 7 August 2020 at Christchurch, New Zealand, , at age 69.⁵
• Obituary: The obituary of Robert John Davidson lawyer & Contact was was published on 9 August 2020 at Christchurch, New Zealand, . Rob Davidson:
  August 9, 2020 by admin
  The wonderful husband, and best mate, of our Mayor Lianne Dalziel, died of cancer on Friday. Rob died peacefully in his sleep after having attentively said goodbye to all of those close to him.
  Rob was a working-class boy who went from school to work and at 17 started with the NZ Railways. He regaled many of us over the years with tales of antics he was involved with as a train driver.
  When the Railways were Corporatized in the mid 1980’s he took redundancy and went to University and studied law.
  Rob remained right up to his death actively working with community agencies, especially the Aranui Community Trust and the Salisbury Street Foundation. He never forgot where he came from and retained his commitment to those who were less fortunate in our City.
  Rob and Lianne married in 2000 and he has been an amazing husband, and foil, for Lianne ever since. Any of us who knew them well will have heard Lianne hollering “Robeeeeee” at the top of her voice as he supplied her with yet another contrary opinion, whether she had asked for it or not. His opinions were seldom PC and provided Lianne with an opinion those who worked with her seldom would.
  Rob’s funeral is next Saturday and our thoughts are with Lianne and their extended whanau.⁶

• (Informant) Death: He registered the death of Keitha Thelma Glossop in 1994 at New Zealand, .⁷
• Newspaper Article*: Robert John Davidson lawyer & Contact was mentioned in a newspaper article Christchurch mayor's husband Rob Davidson dies from cancer.
  Rob Davidson, the husband of Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel, has died from cancer.
  Davidson, 69, a well-known lawyer and father of city councillor Mike Davidson, had been unwell with prostate cancer for some time.
  The council confirmed Davidson’s death on Friday morning.
  Acting mayor Andrew Turner said the news has saddened council staff and councillors.
  “Our thoughts are with the mayor, councillor Davidson and all of Rob’s family at this difficult time,” Turner said.
  “Many of us knew Rob and admired his determination and tenacity in supporting Christchurch communities, particularly the people of Aranui, and his strong commitment to Lianne in their 25 years together.
  “It is a great loss for his family, along with many community groups in Christchurch.”
  Davidson ran Riccarton law firm Davidson Legal and had been married to Dalziel since 2000.
  He also worked with several non-governmental organisations, including being chairman of the Aranui Community Trust and the Salisbury Street Foundation – a Christchurch rehabilitation centre.
  Dalziel spoke publicly about his illness in December 2018 when she revealed the diagnosis had delayed her decision to run for a third term as mayor.
  At the time she said he had responded well to treatment. “There is every reason to be confident we have many years ahead of us.”
  Dalziel said Davidson was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks after a Cancer Society Ball that June.
  “That did put a challenge in front of me,” she said when announcing her intention to run again.
  “We really did have to focus on Rob.”
  In a column for The Star, Dalziel said of her husband’s cancer: “Rob came back from overseas feeling unwell. He went to the doctor and began a barrage of tests.
  “Finally a bone scan and a biopsy confirmed it was prostate cancer. It came as a big shock.
  “I haven’t talked publicly before now, because the question from the media since July is whether I’m going to run for mayor again. As I’m sure you will understand, this has required additional thought.”
  Davidson’s family posted a tribute to Facebook on Friday saying he was “larger than life” and had “left a big hole in our lives”.
  “As the end has drawn near, the stories we have heard of the kindness, acts of generosity and support for people in their time of need, have increased our sense of pride in all he has achieved,” the post read.
  “He has touched so many lives from so many different communities and made a real difference. And he has made many friends along the way ... true friends from every walk of life that meant the world to him.
  “We are however grateful for the special time we have had with him over the past few weeks, and know that he is now at peace and at one with the world.”
  Former Christchurch mayor Gary Moore described Davidson as a good mate and a “working-class boy” who never forgot his roots.
  “He always reflected the views of people that often missed out,” Moore said.
  “He played a fundamental supporting role to Lianne, to often give an alternative view that he expressed very clearly, and she was never left with any doubt what he was thinking.
  “Robbie and my wife got on extremely well because they both had the view of somebody that they loved who was in the hot-seat – you can’t buy that.
  “I think that we as a city need to mourn with Lianne and to love her and nurture her because she’ll be entering a very difficult part of her life. She and Robbie were a great team, and she is now on her own, so people need to support her and to give her space.”
  Salisbury St Foundation chairman John Howard said Davidson spent just over 25 years on the foundation’s board and was a highly valued member and would be sadly missed.
  He said during that time Davidson used his expertise to put the foundation in a strong financial position, which would allow it to support the community for many years to come.
  “He was a character and being a lawyer he was very much down to earth, I’ll miss that candid, jovial response that he brings to any community.
  “He was always approachable … and personally he was a bit of a mentor for me as he was on the board before I [joined].
  “He is sadly missed, and he’ll be a very difficult person to replace on the board ... but he’s at peace now.”
  Dalziel became Christchurch's mayor in 2013 after spending 23 years as a Labour MP in the city, during which time she was both commerce and immigration minister under prime minister Helen Clark. on 7 August 2020 at Christchurch, New Zealand, .⁸
  

  

  

  
• Newspaper Article: He was mentioned in a newspaper article Rob Davidson remembered for his dedication to community and love for helping those in need
  Rob Davidson, the late husband of Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel, was remembered for his unwavering dedication to the community and his lifelong fight for justice in a heartfelt service in Christchurch.
  Davidson died at home on Friday, August 7, aged 69. He had been unwell with prostate cancer for some time.
  Two Harley-Davidson motorcycles led the Packard hearse, which brought Davidson’s coffin, adorned in flowers, to St Michael and all Angels Anglican Church, on Oxford Tce, at 11am on Saturday.
  Only a few close friends and family were allowed into the church because of the recent move to alert level 2 restrictions. Instead, a livestream link allowed many others to attend virtually.
  The service opened with a karanga (ceremonial call in Maori) followed by tributes from family and friends as bouquets and pictures of Davidson covered the altar.
  Son Leon Davidson said his father, who was adopted and brought up by Scottish parents, loved motorcycles, tattoos, politics and his Scottish and Maori heritage.
  Above all else, Davidson loved helping others, he said.
  Davidson left school when he was 15 and worked for the New Zealand Railways Department, driving locomotives based out of Kaikaura.
  He also joined the Labour Party when he was 15 and remained involved with the party most of his life. He was later honoured with a life membership.
  "He was happy at [the] railways and was surrounded by good people that he could have fun with and it allowed his Labour politics to flourish.”
  In the mid-1980s, Davidson left his railway job and began studying law with the goal of "making a difference", Leon said.
  "It wasn't easy for Rob to complete his degree and get admitted to the bar, he left school at 15 and during the course of his study he did a few things he shouldn't have."
  After being admitted, Davidson spent five years working for the Engineers Union before starting his own law firm Davidson Legal in Riccarton.
  Leon said his father "flourished" as a lawyer.
  "He got to continue to shock people, to do and say things he shouldn't, but he also got to help a lot of people, something he loved to do."
  Leon said his father would be remembered for being a "generous and open man" who welcomed people into his life and engaged with them in an "honest way".
  "I've always been proud of my dad, I loved him as a locomotive driver, I loved him as a law student and I loved him as a lawyer.
  "I'm proud of how much he grew and changed through his life and no one I know has a story like Robs. No one had a dad with tattoos and a false tooth who drove the bus on school trips," he said.
  Son and Christchurch City councillor Mike Davidson said his father was “his rock”.
  "My father was the person who had the most influence in my life, I'm not going to say he was a saint, he wasn't a perfect father, but he was a bloody good one [and] I wanted for nothing,” he said.
  "He was always without hesitation in my corner, and he inspired me and helped me to become who I am today."
  Davidson had been married to Dalziel since 2000.
  He also worked with several non-governmental organisations, including being chairman of the Aranui Community Trust and on the board of the Salisbury Street Foundation – a Christchurch rehabilitation centre – for more than 25 years.
  Dalziel said Davidson, who was her “soulmate”, had inspired her throughout his life.
  He loved the people of Aranui and was a firm believer in providing reintegration services, she said.
  "[The Salisbury Street Foundation] represents everything of what Rob always believed in, reintegration and re-engagement and people being given a second chance and the opportunity to reach their full potential."
  Dalziel said Davidson loved people and took great pride in seeing them succeed.
  "He could talk to anyone, Rob has met royalty and been introduced to world leaders, but for Rob it's never been about the person's position he was genuinely interested in people's life experiences and the significance of places he visited.
  "You will live on in your children and grandchildren and in the lives you have touched and [those that] will continue to be touched in your name, you have made a real difference to this world, a world that is richer for you having been in it.”
  The service ended with a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace, while Davidson’s casket was carried to the Rolls-Royce hearse. on 15 August 2020 at Christchurch, New Zealand, .⁹
  

  Davidson’s coffin, adorned in flowers at St Michael and all Angels Anglican Church, on Oxford Tce in Christchurch on Saturday.

  

  The service opened with a karanga, followed by tributes from family and friends.

  

  Only a few close friends and family were allowed into the church because of the recent move to alert level 2 restrictions.

  

  Son Leon Davidson said his father, who was adopted and brought up by Scottish parents, loved motorcycles, tattoos, politics and his Scottish and Maori heritage.

  

  Son Mike Davidson said his father inspired and helped him to become the person he is today.

  

  Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel said Davidson loved people and took great pride in seeing them succeed.

  

  The service ended with a bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace, while Davidson’s casket was carried to the hearse.