Peter Dennehy died in Hastings on 11 July 2015 aged 84. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Julie, five children and five grandchildren.

Born on 9 April 1931 and raised in Whangarei, former Coroner Peter Dennehy won a scholarship to Sacred Heart in Auckland, before attending law school. He moved to Hastings after being admitted to the bar in 1955 and practised law for 54 years.

In his early years, Peter worked for Le Bon Helleur before joining Holderness and Tattersall. The firm later became Holderness Tattersall and Dennehy when Peter became a partner in 1964. In 1988, Peter was appointed to the position of coroner, which he held for 19 years. He retired from practice in 2009 at the age of 78.

An avid golfer, he was a long-time member of Hastings Golf Club. He served as President of the County Club, was a member of the Stortford Rotary Club for 47 years and the Catholic representative on the Hawke's Bay Education Board.

Steinlager was Peter's favourite beer and it is rumoured that he would not frequent establishments that did not stock that brand.

Described as having a quick, dry wit, Peter was also a private person who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

This first appeared in the NZLS - Hawke's Bay Branch Newsletter, issue 47, September 2015.