Jack Passing – October 2026

⚓️BULMER, Kevin David John, CPOEL K19582.
Peacefully at home on 7th October 2026 aged 73 years, surrounded by loved ones. Dearly loved husband of the late Sharon, and father of Dani and Shaun. Loved stepfather of Jason and the late Shane and Leon. Beloved Poppa to all his grandchildren. Dear brother of Anne Couchman and the late Peggy Camplin and Sharyn Mehana. A service for Kevin will be held at 2pm on Saturday October 10th at Pyes Pa Crematorium Chapel, 403 Pyes Pa Road Tauranga. In lieu of flowers please consider an online donation to Waipuna Hospice, to whom Kevin’s family are very grateful.

⚓️GORDON, Kenneth Charles. RNZN Joined as BOY2 2/44 NZ9117
Returned serviceman WW2.2/11/1927 – 15/10/2026 Peacefully at Beetham, 2 weeks shy of his 99th birthday Loved husband of Marie (dec). Loved father of Alastair and Renske, Fiona and Shane, Hugh and Vicky. Loved grandfather to Ella, Tessa, Mieke, Brendan, Cameron, Lachlan, Angus and Christian.

⚓️HOPKINS, Michael John (Hoppy) MEA1 NZ17567 Joined 1/63 Passed away peacefully on 13 October 2026, aged 80. Loved fiercely by his children Chris and Julie, Anna and Will, Jo and Giana, and grandchildren Theo, Alfie, Lola and Jackson, James, Alice and Robbie, Annita, and Nancy. A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at Mahurangi West Hall on Tuesday 20th from 2pm, and to leave a tribute please click on the Tribute Wall and sign in with your email as a Guest. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of Mike’s life journey.

⚓️JELLEY, Albert Archibald (Arch) SLT, RNZNVR
Arch served with distinction in the RNZNVR, rising to Sub-Lieutenant Gunnery Officer and seeing deployment on Russian Convoy duty aboard HMS Bermuda before later serving on coastal submarines and as Navigator on HM Submarine Vagabond.Was one of New Zealand’s most beloved and enduring figures in athletics — a quiet, understated man whose stopwatch and steady presence on the sideline shaped generations of world-class runners across more than six decades of coaching. Born in Dunedin on 13 August 1922, Arch was the second eldest of five children in a household where sport ran deep; his father, Albert Edward “Albie” Jelley, was a first-class cricket umpire. As a boy at Mornington School and Otago Boys’ High School, Arch proved himself a natural athlete — senior gymnastics champion and featherweight boxing champion in 1939 — before his slight, wiry frame drew him toward running. He joined the Mornington Harrier Club at 18 and competed at a high level, representing Otago, West Coast North Island, and Wellington, with his best performance a fourth-place finish at the 1946 New Zealand Cross Country Championships. World War II interrupted his running career. After the war he returned to education, training at Dunedin Teachers’ College and the University of Otago before going on to earn a BA (Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington in 1971. He taught in rural Wanganui and Wellington, then moved to Auckland in 1957, eventually becoming founding principal of Sunnybrae Normal School in 1966 — a role he held for over twenty years. Coaching had drawn him in as early as 1960, when he joined Owairaka Harriers — home of the legendary Arthur Lydiard — and discovered what disciplined training could do. His early successes with Neville Scott and Ian Studd gave way to the most celebrated partnership of his career: his work with Sir John Walker. In 1975, Walker set a world mile record of 3:49.4 in Gothenburg — the first sub-3:50 mile in history. The following year in Montreal, Walker claimed Olympic 1500m gold. Arch was there for every step. Yet his legacy extended far beyond one athlete. He coached Rod Dixon and Dick Quax at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, guided Christine Pfitzinger and Steve Scott to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, served as New Zealand national selector for nearly two decades, and — at the age of 93 — came out of retirement to coach Hamish Carson to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Arch applied the same philosophy to coaching as to teaching: keep it simple, keep it positive, and never blame the athlete. He believed a bad race was never the runner’s fault — it was the coaches. That humility, as much as his tactical brilliance, defined him. Honoured with an OBE in 1982, a CNZM in 2021, the SPARC lifetime achievement award in 2007, and Life Membership of Athletics New Zealand in 2024, Arch Jelley was inducted into the New Zealand Coaches Hall of Fame. He was also a devoted bridge player and tutor, a lawn bowls enthusiast, and a dedicated family genealogist. He is survived by his wife Jean, eight children (including stepchildren), sixteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Arch passed away on 24 October 2026 at Bupa Glenburn in Auckland, aged 104, having lived a life of extraordinary purpose, modesty, and love for the sport that defined him.

⚓️MCKEEN, Cameron Ser No: 18196 – Able RNZN (Indonesian)
Peacefully at Waikato Hospital on Wednesday, 7th October 2026, aged 82 years.
Dearly loved husband of Susanne, and much-loved father of Joanne, Andrew, the late Kylie, Jessie and Jack.
A memorial service for Cameron will be held on Friday 16th October 2026, at 11.00am at the South Waikato Funeral Services Chapel. Commerce Street, Tokoroa.
A free live stream is available for family and friends who cannot make it in person.
https://live.swfs.co.nz/
South Waikato Funeral Services Ltd FDANZ P.O. Box 459, Tokoroa 344

⚓️ MUTTON Gary Obituary 20.04.1937 – 19.10.2026
Poet; composer; orchestra member (French Horn); Midshipman RNZ Navy; javelin thrower; cricketer; Friend to many, and father of Nick Schwarcz (Sweden). A gathering will be held.

⚓️RYDER, Robert Malcolm (Max). RNZN NZ15864
RYDER, Robert Malcolm (Max). RNZN S/N 15864 Sadly, Robert passed away peacefully on Sunday, 4 October 2026. A beloved brother, father and grandfather. Robert will be deeply missed and forever remembered by his loving family and friends. Rest peacefully, Robert. Forever in our hearts. A celebration of Robert’s life will be held in the Beth Shan Chapel, cnr Maraekakaho and Orchard Roads, Hastings on Thursday, 8 October at 10.30am. Messages to the Ryder Family, C/o PO Box 439, Napier 4140.