Former Mayor of Woodstock Pat Sobeski has died.
Sobeski, who served as mayor for one term between 2010 and 2014, died Thursday at the age of 64.
A cause of death has not been made public.
Sobeski was first elected to Woodstock City Council in 2003. Former colleague and current city councillor Deb Tait was elected the same year and says she quickly developed a strong friendship with Sobeski.
"He was great. He was a very nice man. We didn't always agree in the chamber but once we were outside all was forgotten," says Tait. "We use to sit together during council meetings and we always had a good time."
During his time as mayor, the city saw the controversial sale of Woodstock Hydro to Hydro One. Tait says Sobeski recieved a lot of criticism for the sale but he always believed it was the right choice.
"He thought he was doing the best for the taxpayers. He thought it was very important and he was worried about what was going to happen in the future. To him that was a very big deal," says Tait. "All of the decisions he made were based on what he thought was the best for the city. He never had an alternative motive or anything that was self centred."
Sobeski also served as a Conservative MP for Cambridge from 1988 to 1993. He returned to Woodstock in 2001 to care for his mother.
Sobeski played hockey in Woodstock from a young age and never lost his love for the sport.
"He was such a big hockey fan. One of the biggest highlights for him was when we held the parade in Woodstock for Jake Muzzin when the LA Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2014," says Tait. "I think he was thrilled with that. He was able to present the key to the city to Jake."
City hall has been flooded with calls of condolences for the former mayor. Flags are also flying at half staff throughout the community.