Leeroy Petersen is being remembered as a family man who has left an indelible mark on Canberra’s hospitality and sporting communities. Photo: File.
The Canberra hospitality and sporting communities have been left stunned by the sudden death of colourful restaurateur Leeroy Petersen.
The Canadian-born owner of Caribou Kingston died while visiting family on 8 October.
Mr Petersen leaves behind his partner in life and business, Sophia, and three young children.
His family released a statement on Friday afternoon, responding to the outpouring of love and support since the news became public.
“Leeroy was a man who lived life with passion and generosity,” they said.
“Everything he committed to, whether it was his family, work, his hobbies, or his friendships, he genuinely gave his whole heart to.
“He had a presence that lit up every room, and people were naturally drawn to his warmth, humour, and boundless energy.
“His love for people made it no surprise that he found his calling in the hospitality industry, where he built a career, and a community.
“Leeroy also had a deep love for sport, especially ice hockey, and he carried his Canadian roots with pride wherever he went.
“As a family, we are beyond heartbroken by this sudden loss. He died peacefully in his sleep.”
A larger-than-life character, he once described himself as the “adventurer-in-charge” at Caribou.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Mr Petersen moved to Canberra in the early 2000s after selling a pub in Sydney.
“We were looking for somewhere to live. We thought, let’s just drive down to Canberra and have a look,” he said.
“I drove in, and it was just before winter was coming, and the leaves were falling off the trees. The red leaves falling reminded me of my hometown in Canada. And I kind of got this chill.
“It made me feel at home, and in that moment in time, I knew that we were going to move to Canberra and live here.”
Mr Petersen quickly became an integral part of the sports and hospitality fabric of the ACT, sponsoring Canberra Brave and establishing the popular bar Caribou Kingston. Caribou took out the People’s Choice Award at this year’s AHA ACT Awards for Excellence.
In a post on social media, the Canberra Brave community today paid tribute to Mr Petersen.
“Leeroy was … a force of passion, energy and commitment whose impact on the Canberra Brave, the local hockey community, and Canberra sport and business was immense.
“His enthusiasm was infectious, and his presence will be profoundly missed.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his incredible spirit.
“The club will pay tribute to Leeroy at an appropriate time. RIP Leeroy – forever Brave.”
The Oz Hockey Media team also extended its condolences to Mr Petersen’s family.
“(He was) a beloved member of the Australian Ice Hockey League family, a dedicated Canberra Brave fan, sponsor, and one of the biggest supporters of our podcast, Hockey Night in Australia,” they said.
“Our hearts are broken; we have lost an incredibly wonderful man, and he will be deeply missed.”
Original Article published by Kim Treasure on Region Canberra.
