Tributes flow for former accountant, Maroochydore Tennis chair Eric Robert Smith

A former Sunshine Coast accountant and sports club chairman is being remembered as a “wonderful” man and “jokester” who kept the laughs up even during a lung cancer battle.

Eric Smith is being remembered as a wonderful man and a jokester. Photos: Supplied

A former Sunshine Coast accountant and driving force behind a sporting club has been remembered as “a wonderful husband” and “such a nice bloke”.

Eric Robert Smith died on August 9 at the age of 75 after a two-and-a-half year battle with lung cancer.

Mr Smith owned Coolum Accountants in Coolum Beach with his wife of 51 years, Anne, and was a former chairman at the Maroochydore Tennis Club.

Mrs Smith said her late husband was well liked and respected by all their clients, and despite having retired as an accountant in 2013, Mr Smith continued working in the financial sector by doing super fund audits until January 2023.

Eric Smith retired from accounting in 2013 but continued working in the financial sector for another 10 years. Photos: Supplied

He was also a driving force behind the upgrades to Maroochydore Tennis Club which were completed in 2020.

Mr Smith was diagnosed with lung cancer in February 2021, but even while going through intense treatment, Mrs Smith said he remained a “jokester”.

“Even in the hospital, the nurses said ‘are you allergic to anything?’ and he said ‘only nurses’,” she said with a chuckle.

Eric Smith (right) pictured with Mayor Mark Jamieson, Narelle Pearce, Shirley Wallace and Jane Henry at the Maroochydore Tennis Club at its reopening following an upgrade in 2020. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

“He loved to play jokes on people for their birthdays presenting them with embarrassing items such as nappies, dummies,” she said.

Mr Smith never complained during the treatment, she said, and “always put (her) first, even when he was dying”.

Anne and Eric Smith. Photos: Supplied

He was an “all rounder” sportsman who “excelled in everything” including squash, cricket and rugby league, but especially tennis.

“He loved his tennis,” she said.

Mr Smith’s talents also extended to the world of music, Mrs Smith said, with a passion for guitar he shared with their son.

The couple, who have eight grandchildren, lived on the Sunshine Coast some 40 years, Mrs Smith said, where they raised their four children – Scott, Tracey, Susanne and Chelsea.

“He was a wonderful grandfather to the grandkids, and a wonderful husband,” she said.

Eric Smith. Photos: Supplied

“Such a nice bloke, such a nice person, he touched many people.”

She thanked the staff at Katie Rose Cottage Hospice in Doonan for taking care of her late husband at the end of his life.

“I looked after him for the last two days and it got very hard,” she said.

Mr Smith was farewelled at a funeral service at Gregson and Weight in Buderim. Mrs Smith said around 300 people attended.