Former Whitehorse mayor Bill Weigand died last Sunday at the age of 92.

The longtime Whitehorse resident is being remembered by friends and former colleagues as a gentleman’s gentleman with a kind heart.

Mayor Dan Curtis paid tribute to Weigand at the beginning of city council’s meeting on Monday.

Weigand, said Curtis, was a real legend in the Yukon.

“He was basically loved,” he said. “Everybody here is heartbroken.

“I have reached out on behalf of council and myself to the family.”

Weigand served one term, from 1991 to 1994. He was the first full-time mayor for the city.

Curtis recalls several years ago being at the Pioneer Cemetery in the downtown area to celebrate substantial improvements.

Weigand was there.

Curtis said he thought they were going to introduce Weigand as the former mayor, but instead introduced him as a former grave digger – because he was. It was one of his many jobs.

Upon moving to Whitehorse in 1946 from Alberta, Weigand became a civilian firefighter. He was raised in Winnipeg.

He later owned and managed Murdoch’s Gem Shop with the late Mike Scott. He also worked as a real estate agent after earning certification from the University of British Columbia.

Weigand served at one time as chair of the the Yukon Liquor Board and another time as chair of the Yukon Utilities Board. He was also a member of the Whitehorse Downtown Business Association.

In 2005, Weigand and his wife, Jeri, were awarded the Yukon Commissioner’s Award for Public Service.

Curtis said Weigand was so well-liked, every time he came into city hall, he received hugs from everyone.

Not more than six months ago, Weigand went to see Curtis with a “beautiful letter” from the late Ted Harrison explaining one the artist’s paintings hanging at city hall, Curtis recalled.

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell issued a statement Tuesday about Weigand’s passing.

“I was very saddened to learn of the passing of former Whitehorse mayor, and my close friend, Bill Weigand,” says the statement.

“You couldn’t have met a kinder man; he never had a bad word to say about anyone.

“Bill comported himself with dignity and was beloved by the staff at the City of Whitehorse. He was an amazing host when a delegation from Japan came to Whitehorse, Bill and his wife, Jeri, treated them like royalty.”

Bagnell also pointed out that after his term in office, the Weigands were inivited to live in China. For several years, they performed a diplomatic ceremonial role there while promoting Whitehorse.

Former city councillors Sue Edelman and Dave Stockdale both served on council with Weigand.

Weigand was always looking for the right way of do things, Edelman told the Star Monday.

She said he really knew his staff and was always a gentleman.

He listened to what people had to say, and when he chaired council meetings, he made sure everybody had an opportunity to speak, said Edelman.

The former Liberal cabinet minister also worked for Weigand at Murdoch’s as a student for three summers.

“He was a very good employer,” she said, adding the Weigands also lived next-door for a time in Riverdale.

Like Edelman, Stockdale remembers how Weigand encouraged people to speak about what was on their mind. He was very respectful, said the former councillor.

When he was in the hospital for a swollen knee, Stockdale said, Weigand was the only one on council who went to visit him.

Weigand, he said, knew a lot.

“I liked Bill as mayor,” Stockdale said. “He was a nice guy.”

Stockdale recalled how the Weigands would host city council for Christmas parties.

See more on the life of Bill Weigand in Friday’s Star.