MAIN IMAGE: Wayne Bushell (left) recently passed away. He was the franchisee of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty office in Port Alfred. On the right is Heather Tyson, the former franchisee. Photo: Jon Houzet, Talk of the Town
His colleagues describe him as kind and generous, a gentleman with a flair for style and a great sense of humour. Wayne Bushell, franchisee for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Port Alfred, passed away suddenly last Friday.
The 58-year old Bushell died Friday morning 14 September in a car accident while travelling to Port Elizabeth explains Heather Tyson, the former franchise holder.
Bushell purchased the franchise from Tyson in October 2016 where after she stayed on as an estate agent with the agency. Tyson had the franchise for ten years but when it expired looked forward to having less responsibility and more time to spend with her grandchildren. She found a buyer in Bushell who heard about her from his brother.
Prior to moving to Ndlambe, near Port Alfred on the East Coast, Bushell spent 8 years in Nigeria as managing director of a property and facilities company. He had been in the commercial property industry since 1999 and before that the oil industry for 16 years.
Lew Geffen, Chairman of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, attended the agency’s regional Sapphire awards event in November 2016. Commenting on the recent tragic turn of events, Geffen said he met with Bushell a couple of times since 2016.
“I didn’t really know him that well but I know that he was a very honest, ethical operator who gave of his best to ensure that the franchise was successful. We deeply regret his passing and have already offered our condolences to the family. May he rest in peace, Geffen said.
According to Tyson, Bushell was dearly loved by the staff and agents in the agency office Port Alfred and these sentiments are beautifully reflected in what his colleagues shared about Bushell.
“Wayne was kind and generous, had good business acumen, personal skills, was approachable and always ready to assist,” said Tyson. Mark Thomson said Bushell was a dynamic, perplexing gentleman and he feels fortunate to have met and worked with him.
“Wayne was a very considerate and generous boss. He often bought cakes as a surprise for the staff and put chocolates on every member’s desk on special occasions. He was a dapper dresser with a flair for style, very well spoken and remarkably erudite with a wicked sense of humour. His spontaneous outbursts of humour had the staff chortling with laughter,” said Terry Kukard while Lilian Neave said he was a kind gentle giant and she enjoyed his sense of humour.
“Besides the fact that Wayne was our principal, he was always caring and interested in all the agents’ well-being as well as their families. He was a thorough gentleman and will be missed for his amazing command of the English language and his wicked sense of humour,” said Fiona Timm and Carole Hill said he was a smart, suave businessman “cultured with business acumen. Always presentable and put up a good front”.
Bushell leaves behind his wife, Kathy and three children, a son, Matthew and his wife Loren and a granddaughter, Sienna; daughter Lisa and husband Steve and a grandson Adam; and a second daughter Meghan (unmarried).
The memorial service is Friday morning 21 September at 10:00 at the OD Inggs Funeral Parlour in Grahamstown.
