He had just turned 84.

He served as mayor of Yellowknife for six terms -- 1956-57, 1968-73 and 1976-79.

Former Yellowknife mayor Don Sian said he will remember Fred Henne as charismatic and, at times, controversial. But above all, he said, "he was dedicated and committed to promoting not only Yellowknife but the North in general."

Charles Dent, minister of Education, Culture and Employment came to Yellowknife as Henne's executive assistant at City Hall in 1976. He said he was astounded by Henne's ability to manage the city despite a drastic rate of growth -- about 10 per cent per year, he estimated.

"He had a handle on everything that was going on. To stay on top of it took a real strong organizer and he was good at getting people on side," Dent said, noting that Henne still ran a business on the side. That business was Yellowknife Ford and Imperial Oil. Henne and Mike Piro ran the dealership for 31 years. Piro described Henne as a good business partner and someone who was "very persistent."

"If he set about to do something, he usually got it done," Piro said.

Bob Findlay, another former mayor and frequent political rival, said although they had their differences, he respected Henne's "love of Yellowknife."

Concurring with Piro's assessment of Henne as "persistent," Findlay called him "an astute politician and he worked hard for Yellowknife."

Henne and former newspaper publisher Ted Horton were at the forefront as "Yellowknife climbed out of Ottawa's influence," according to Findlay.

Among Henne's greatest accomplishments was seeing through the construction of City Hall, Findlay said, even if it wasn't really affordable at the time.

When asked for comment, current Yellowknife Mayor Dave Lovell put it simply. "No one here says Fred Henne without feeling one way or the other," he said.

A territorial park at Long Lake, across from Yellowknife Airport, was named in Henne's honor in 1984. Sian said he recalls Henne being overcome at the ceremony.

"The one thing that really struck me was the emotion in Fred when we made that announcement," said Sian. "It was sort of like a culmination and a realization of all that he's been and what he's done for this community."

Dent said Henne was a founding member of the local Rotary Club and his long-term dedication to Yellowknife likely corresponded with the value he placed on community service.

Henne also possessed some musical talent and was known to play the saxophone at the occasional party. "He wasn't bad," Dent chuckled.

Henne is survived by his wife, Helen Henne of Summerland; stepchildren: Sandy Dickson and Rich Scheck of Yellowknife and Bob Sheck and Bill Henne, both of Vancouver; three sisters and two brothers.