Geoffrey Edelsten was a shy recluse who craved attention

Geoffrey Edelsten would have been pleased his death made national headlines, writes Jon Anderson, who rubbed shoulders with “The Doc”.

Dr Geoffrey Edelsten and his then wife Leanne Edelsten at the footy in 1985. Picture: News Corp

Geoffrey Edelsten was the rarest of combinations, a shy recluse who craved attention.

Combine the two and you pivot from buxom blondes, loudly coloured suits and Italian sports cars to a quietly-spoken man who sought but never received widespread acceptance.

I initially met the then Dr Geoffrey Edelsten with his first wife Leanne at Flemington races on Derby Day of 1985. Shunned by Melbourne’s social set, they made a strange pair striding the spacious lawns, she in a white leather number while he looked like a pimp.

When unkindly re-using that description 20 years later, Edelsten rang to dispute the facts of my story, arguing the day was in fact Melbourne Cup. Always meticulous in detail, he was positive I had got the days wrong, and such a mistake would erode any credibility my recollection held.

Having been shown a Sunday, November 3, 1985 press clipping from the Sunday Press yarn pointing out the previous Saturday was indeed Derby Day, he was courteous and apologetic before quietly moving on, later setting up a website calling out Australia’s worst journalists (challenging inaccuracies).

Geoffrey Edelsten was “a shy recluse who craved attention”. Picture: Kristian Dowling

We met again at a Prahran eatery in 2015 when he and Gabi Grecko were together, a year after they had been front and square at the funeral of coaching legend Tom Hafey.

Having questioned the appropriate nature of taking a scantily-dressed woman that he had recently hooked up with on a sugar daddy website, Edelsten was again on the phone.

He politely pointed out that he and Hafey had enjoyed a very positive relationship during their year together at the Sydney Swans (which Hafey always confirmed) and then quietly said goodbye.

Indeed, the 12 months when he was chair of the Swans between July, 1985, and July 1986, surely helped sell the VFL brand in Sydney more than any other initiative or person.

He was often the smartest bloke in the room but unlike many others born with the same intellectual advantages, didn’t seek to highlight his agile mind, being a good listener.

Carlton-raised, Edelsten’s mother was extremely successful in the lingerie business and for lengthy periods he mimicked her wealth, before blind faith in US business partners over the past decade led to bankruptcy in that country. It wasunlike Edelstenthat he would commit so much without having done the due diligence he was respected for.

Gabi Grecko with Geoffrey Edelsten. Picture: Supplied

That his death led to national headlines would have in part pleased him, particularly as the tone of most words written have been largely favourable. And deserved.

That he had been a groundbreaking doctor after introducing bulk billing, to the manager of a rock band, highlighted his diverse personality, his eccentricity and creativity.

Or craving a relationship with a woman but choosing partners who were 20 to 50 years younger than himself - with the age differences growing as he aged.

He didn’t typically develop a wide network of close friends, although he had a loyal and respectful relationship with his long-time executive assistant Kaye Whittaker. And certainly those involved with Sydney Swans during his tenure speak fondly of the man they dubbed “The Doc”.