Ted Sands has been remembered as an advocate for the community and a man who was straight down the line.
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The former council member died suddenly on Monday.
Mr Sands was first elected to the City of Launceston council for a three-year term in 1999. He was elected again in 2005, but bowed out at the 2018 local government elections.
Many former and current councillors have spoken about the passion Mr Sands had for his community.
Mayor Albert van Zetten said Mr Sands had been a proud and passionate advocate for Northern Tasmania, devoting 16 years of service to the council.
"Ted was driven to make Launceston a better place," Cr van Zetten said.
"Ted took a common-sense approach to issues, but he was also someone who could think outside the box and wasn't afraid to explore creative solutions to problems.
"His focus was on rolling up his sleeves and getting to work, because he was a 'can do' councillor.
"He had a wicked sense of humour and was always ready to laugh.
"Ted spoke with passion and conviction on issues like the state of the kanamaluka/Tamar River, planning matters and community issues; he was determined to use his formidable skills and life experience to make a positive difference.
"On behalf of the people of Launceston I extend sincere sympathies to Ted's wife Anne, and their family and friends."
Independent Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage previously worked as a councillor with Mr Sands.
"I met Ted when we were both standing for council way back in 2004," she said.
"We'd often get together and work out our plans and sit at council meetings to get the lay of the land before we stood for council."
Ms Armitage said they were good friends and she would call him "Teddy".
"He was straight down the line," she said.
"There was no nonsense with Ted. If he meant it, he said and you knew where you were with him."
Ms Armitage said the Tamar River was very important to Mr Sands.
"It was something he always carried through with him," she said.
"He often would write letters to the editor.
"Ted was a grassroots person. If there was a constituent issue, he would go out and look at people's concerns. He took the time to meet with people and discuss their issues."
Member for Bass Janie Finlay said she would remember Mr Sand for his love of his community.
"I served with Ted Sands on council for many years and always found him to be passionate and persistent in the community's best interests," she said.
"I had the upmost respect for him and send my deepest sympathies to his wife Anne and daughter Chelsea."
Launceston councillor Hugh McKenzie said he worked with Mr Sands for a number of years.
"Ted was a man who always had a strong opinion on things and fought very well for his community," he said.
"Ted was always diligently looking after people. He would take people's issues to council and argue vigorously for them. He was a passionate person who loved Launceston and looked after his constituents."
Robin McKendrick worked with Mr Sands at the council for 12 years.
"It was good to work with Ted, he was honest and he was passionate about the way he saw things," he said.
"He worked extremely hard in the community. He was a very strong voice for his area of Kings Meadows and Youngtown.
"He was pretty proud of some of the things he instigated for the Kings Meadows shopping centre. It was the little things that made life easier for the community."
He went on to describe Mr Sands as a good, genuine man.
"He was devoted to his wife Anne and Chelsea, his daughter," he said.
"With his health, he handled it all extremely well."
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