Mr Adam, known to all as Laurie, died on October 11 surrounded by his family following 18 months of illness with dementia and bowel cancer. He was 85 years old.

"He was a great man, a kind man," wife June Adam said. "He was a real sportsman in the true sense of the word. He was the love of my life and the most beautiful person I have ever met."

Mr and Mrs Adam met, married and raised a family in Raymond Terrace. They were married for 61 years and had five children together: Penelope, Simon (who died in 2013 from MND), Andrew, Jonathan and Rebecca.

Mr Adam grew up in Raymond Terrace and attended Newcastle Boys High School. He excelled in a number of sports, in particular cricket and rugby league. Mr Adam played rugby league for Raymond Terrace and Maitland. He was part of the Maitland team that won Newcastle premierships in 1956, 1957 and 1958. He held a 200 run record at Largs Oval for Raymond Terrace Cricket Club for many years.

"Dad developed from an early age a strong sense of responsibility, duty and propriety," Andrew Adam said about his father. "His devotion to his Christian faith and his love of sport played an integral part of his development and the strength of his core personal values that would never leave him.

"It was his connection to faith that nurtured and shaped his outward kindness towards people. He always saw the good in people be came into contact with no matter the circumstances."

This kindness also flowed into his work as a solicitor. Mr Adam spent a lot of time listening to clients of Cunningham and Adam Partners, where he worked for more than 50 years.

Mrs Adam said her husband would often be paid for his services in goods, not cash.

"It was not uncommon to come home and have boxes of oysters, eggs, oranges and grapefruit piled up at the front door," Andrew confirmed. "I truly think dad looked upon his practice as a lawyer as helping the community in the same way he might have as a teacher or minister."

Mr Adam's funeral was held at St John's Anglican Church on October 18. It is the same church Mr Adam attended his entire life, where he married June and their children were christened.

Speaking to Mr Adam's popularity in the community, his funeral was well attended.

"I think it is extremely satisfying and comforting to our family to know that the love and kindness that dad has given all his life has been truly recognised and reciprocated," Adam said in delivering his father's eulogy.

"He set an aspirational benchmark as a citizen to this community - a benchmark that sits well beyond just this community.

"He has been a wonderful father, husband, cousin and friend."