Sat 4 Jan 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Herb Romaniuk's friendship with Katavich stretches back to University A longtime friend of the late Tony Katavich believes he was ready, and comforted by his religious beliefs, as he passed away. Auckland lawyer Herb Romaniuk was Katavich’s closest friend, and the last person to see him alive before he slipped away peacefully at St Patrick's Home and Hospital in Epsom last week. Romaniuk had left the room so a nurse could change him. “He thought his time was up I think,” Romaniuk says. “He was quite a religious man as well. He knew he was embarking on a long journey to discover the mysteries that are still hidden from us. That was Tony. He had a religious bent to him as well.” When he passed on, the 78-year-old left behind a huge legacy for glbti New Zealand. Along with being part of the running the many gay businesses in what was infamously known as the ‘Out Empire’, he was among those who piled immeasurable resources and energy into Homosexual Law Reform and fighting censorship. Romaniuk says he was a man who had a deep interest in humanity, who felt strongly about wanting every human being to have the same dignity. “He would take on the establishment when he thought something wasn’t correct. If something was inappropriate he’d write to the Prime Minister, he’d write to the Director of Customs, he’d write to the Minister of Police. He wasn’t afraid of tackling the bureaucracy of our times,” he says. “When he thought something wasn’t right and an injustice was happening he would actually go into bat. He wasn’t afraid to make a statement, whether it might be controversial or not, if he believed it to be correct.” Their friendship stretches right back to when they served on Auckland University Students Association together, Katavich as Treasurer and Romaniuk as President. The latter recalls Katavich’s love of the arts, from opera and ballet to ‘showbiz’ in general, which inspired him to even bring some of the major artists of the day, from folk act Peter, Paul and Mary to classical pianist Arthur Rubinstein, to the University. “I can remember having a drink with them while they were here – there were some good times of that nature.” Katavich went on to be godfather of Romaniuk’s eldest daughter, and a part of his family, in a close friendship which spanned many decades and included many discussions of politics. “He would ring me up about something new that was in the paper. Our political views were quite similar. We would bounce off each other and I always enjoyed having my discussions with Tony, and getting a bit riled up about things.” He says he will miss his friend and the conversations they so enjoyed. “He’s going on a long journey. Travel well my friend.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 4th January 2014 - 11:48am