CANDICE BRADFIELD
TONY Louw, best known in Port Alfred as the man with all the lights decorating his home over Christmas and for giving presents to all children who visited, died unexpectedly on January 2.
Louw lived in Johannesburg but considered Port Alfred as more than a holiday destination.
He was born on August 10, 1946 and later attended EP Bauman Primary School in Johannesburg. He then went on to Mayfair High School before moving onto John Orr Technical High School where he matriculated.
| Tony Louw |
After completing his apprenticeship to become an electrician, he started his own business called Tony Louw Electrical.
He bought a house in Port Alfred 28 years ago. He first decorated his house in lights for Christmas in 1998, and dressed up as Father Christmas the next year. He would bring happiness to many children over the festive season by handing out sweets and presents to them when they visited his home.
He would also put on an Old Year’s Night fireworks show which he did from 2000 until 2009. He donated the decorative lights that adorn street poles over Christmas holidays to the municipality and also gave some lights to the tourism offices.
"Port Alfred has always been his home,” said his wife Kobie.
Whenever they had time they would visit what was more than a holiday house for him.
"He was happy there,” she said.
Kobie said his death was so sudden she is not sure what the cause was, but suspects kidney failure.
"He was a great man. His loss is so unexpected,” said his wife Kobie.
Last October one of his toes had to be amputated as a result of diabetes. It went gangrenous and he had to have three operations in three weeks.
"But it healed well,” she said.
Besides his wife, he leaves behind two sons, Shane and Warren, daughter-in-laws Cindy and Cie-Ann and grandchildren Bianca, Nicky and Christopher.
Kobie said she would like to thank Dot Pearson for all her service, as well as Dr Grimbeek and Francois from MultiSecurity. She also thanked Keeton Funeral Services for their help and assistance.