Andrew "Andy" Brandt was remembered for his practical jokes and ability to work well with opposition parties on Thursday.
Family, friends, and dignitaries -- both local and provincial -- gathered to share stories after Brandt's funeral service on January 18.
Former Ontario Premier Ernie Eves affectionately called Brandt "one of a kind" and said "everybody loved him."
"Andy was one of the best at always working with the opposition members to change legislation to make it better and I can't give any greater tribute to Andy than that," Eves said. "He had a big heart, he was there for all the right reasons, and he was extremely successful."
Eves recalled shenanigans in the legislature, and said Brandt was the "life of the party, both literally and figuratively."
"I look at politics today and it's so partisan," said Eves. "We used to go out to dinner with members of the opposition. We would discuss how we were going to fix legislation to make it better to serve the people of Ontario."
Eves highlighted some of Brandt's work, including efforts to double the province's LCBO profits.
He said in the midst of pressure to sell and privatize, Brandt successfully increased profits from $1.8 billion dollars annually to $3.6 billion dollars a year.
"Andy and I sat down several times, and he really streamlined, and really made it much more cost effective at the LCBO. He did a great, great, job and I don't think anybody ever gave him enough credit for it. It was absolutely spectacular."
Former Lambton College President and CEO Judith Morris recognized Brandt's role as the college's foundation board chair for 24 years.
"What was even more impressive, was the passion and energy that he put into his role," Morris said.
She remembered him regularly arriving for foundation board meetings one hour early.
"Andy would meet with Margaret Dragan [Lambton College's former Vice President of Finance and Administration], however, if he couldn't find Margaret Dragan he would find someone else. It didn't matter who. It could have been an administrator, a faculty member, a staff member, or a student. That man could find an audience anywhere," Morris laughed.
She said Brandt used his charm and storytelling ability to the college's advantage all the time.
"Any opportunity that he had to talk about Lambton College, he would absolutely take it, and any initiative he saw from another college or university, Andy always believed that Lambton College could do it better. I'm serious about that, and honestly, Andy and I had that in common," Morris said.
The luncheon, to celebrate Brandt's life and legacy, was held at the Lambton College Event Centre ballroom, which was renamed in Brandt's honour.
