Mort Douglas had business in his blood, with a love of family held closest to his heart.
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The well known developer and retailer is being remembered as a "visionary" who helped put Launceston and Northern Tasmania on the map.
Best known for establishing Morty's food hall on Brisbane Street, Mr Douglas died on Wednesday aged 85 from a sudden illness.
Since then his family has been overwhelmed by tributes for a man who "clearly touched the lives of many".
"He was inspirational and he has certainly made his mark here in Tassie," son Marcus Douglas said.
"He was a wonderful, charismatic character and a true gentleman.
"He was a very successful and well respected businessman with a positive influence."
Touching tributes
Along with Morty's, Mr Douglas was also behind developments on the East Coast, including office, accommodation and retail space Morty's on the Bay at St Helens.
He is said to have changed the commercial property landscape of Launceston.
Fellow developer Errol Stewart described him as one of Tasmania's greatest entrepreneurs.
"He was a really good fellow and probably ahead of his time I reckon," he said.
"I think Morty's will be his legacy. He always had the passion to do that and he was persistent to get it done.
"He has other properties around that he has developed, but he was just one of nature's gentlemen.
"Everybody knew him and he was just a good character. He will be missed."
City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said he considered himself lucky to have known Mr Douglas personally.
"He was more than just an astute and intelligent businessman, Cr van Zetten said.
"Mr Douglas was very generous with his time, regularly using his knowledge and expertise to mentor other up-and-coming businesses.
"Mort Douglas was highly respected and contributed much to the fabric of our city."
Launceston Chamber of Commerce president Andrew Pitt said Mr Douglas had clearly left his mark on the city.
"People say his name all the time of course, which is a strong indication of the positive legacy he has left with Mortys food precinct," he said.
"Like other successful Launceston developers who have followed, Mort realised that the key to innovation and renewal is to be sympathetic to both our heritage and good design."
Mort's story
There's no denying Mort came from "good stock". His grandfather, Sir Adye Douglas, was a former Tasmanian Premier who also served two terms as mayor of Launceston. .
Marcus said his father always loved Tasmania, but was lured to the mainland in search of opportunity.
"He met my mother Joan in Scottsdale. She was a nurse for a period of time when Mort worked for the Forestry as a young man," Marcus explained.
"Joan's father invited them back to Yarrawonga in Victoria where he gave Mort the opportunity to work in the family furniture business."
It was here that Mort developed a passion for retail and according to Marcus - "the rest is history".
"He was such a good retailer, and he could see scope for further growth in my grandfather's business," Marcus said.
"But being a young man ... he didn't want to be telling his father-in-law how to run his business. So Mort went out on his own."
Together, Mort and Joan established their own small furniture store in the nearby town of Cobram.
"With Mort being such a charismatic and energetic driver, the business grew from strength to strength," Marcus said.
"It started with a small business that grew rapidly, finally expanding to a second and much larger store in Shepparton. At one stage he was possibly servicing a third of Victoria."
The business was eventually bought out by Guests furniture, leaving Mort free to return to Tasmania.
Old Tassie friends frequently holidayed at St Helens and tales of the abundant seafood and enviable lifestyle brought Mort back to St Helens where he bought a farm still held to this day.
Marcus said the move was in "typical Mort style". By the mid '80s Mort had gone into business with Marcus and Ken Gourlay, establishing Mort Douglas Furniture Launceston at 156 York Street.
Together they ran the business until the early '90s, when Marcus took sole ownership.
From here, Mort acquired more properties in Launceston - including the future site of Morty's.
"Mort had the idea of opening up a big food hall and that's where my brother Peter's building expertise came into the picture," Marcus said.
"Peter and he worked together on redeveloping that site and converting it into the Morty's food hall that it is today."
Outside of his professional life, Mr Douglas loved his family and always made an effort to give back to the community.
This includes unwavering support for fundraisers including The Examiner's Winter Relief Appeal.
Mr Douglas leaves behind his second wife of 20 years Carol, three children Marcus, Peter and Susan, and step-children Ben and Katie
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 14 at Franklin Grove with an accompanying livestream.