Crazy John's founder dies, aged 42

My Thoughts

 

This man looks so young and fit. How can this happen? What is the deal with this?

Did he look after himself? Was he under too much stress? My heart goes out to

the family. My dad died when he was 48, I was 14 and it was hard!!! OMG 42 is just

so young!!!

 

 

Tuesday Oct 23 18:30 AEST

Crazy John's founder John Ilhan, who died suddenly on Tuesday of a heart attack, will be remembered as a rags-to-riches migrant who gave generously back to the community.

Representatives from politics, business, sport and religion have paid tribute to the 42-year-old mobile phone entrepreneur who collapsed and died on Tuesday morning while walking near his home in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Brighton.

The father-of-four was one of Australia's richest men, amassing a personal fortune of $310 million since launching his mobile phone retail chain in 1991.

He was named the 126th richest man in Australia in this year's Business Review Weekly top 200 rich list.

As tributes flowed for the businessman, the company's managing director Brendan Fleiter told AAP it was a "pretty sad day".

He learned of Mr Ilhan's death at 8.30am (AEST) when he received a call from Mr Ilhan's wife, Patricia.

"She's obviously very shocked as is everybody," Mr Fleiter said, with a note of disbelief. "He has four young children."

Mr Fleiter said he last spoke to Mr Ilhan on Monday afternoon. He had not been unwell, Mr Fleiter said, but was a picture of health."The guy was fit and healthy ... he had a gym at his house."

Mr Fleiter described his boss as a man who was generous with his employees and the wider community, including those less fortunate than himself.  He was also a fair and caring boss. "He was fair, he was passionate, he was driven, he was demanding, and caring," Mr Fleiter said.

A close friend who spent family holidays with Mr Ilhan, Grocon property developer Daniel Grollo, said his friend was an "incredibly inspirational guy who gave a lot back to the community".  He was a "self-made guy who achieved a hell of a lot", Mr Grollo said.

Prime Minister John Howard also paused to pay his respects to the mobile phone magnate.  "If the country is kind to you and allows you to make a lot of money, you should give it back," Mr Howard said. "And he understood that Australian way and that's why it's especially sad that we've lost him."

Victorian Premier John Brumby remembered Mr Ilhan as a successful businessman and philanthropist.  "He was a great example of an Australian success story, someone who arrived here as a migrant ... and became a very, very successful individual, successful in business and successful in the community."

Mr Ilhan was born in Turkey and migrated with his parents at the age of five to Australia, where he grew up in the working class Melbourne suburb of Broadmeadows.

He was renowned for his support of charities including homeless children's organisation Kids Under Cover, the Royal Children's Hospital, the Lighthouse Foundation, the Shane Warne Foundation and St Vincent De Paul, among others.

Last year, he established the Ilhan Food Allergy Foundation with his wife, after the couple discovered their daughter Jaida suffered a peanut allergy.  He was also a supporter and sponsor of the Richmond Football Club.  The AFL club was among many organisations to express its sympathies.

The Islamic Council of Victoria also paid tribute to one of its most valued members.  "His was an inspiring Australian story, the son of Turkish migrants whose talent and hard work made him one of Australia's most successful businessmen," said Islamic Council of Victoria president Ramzi Elsayed.

In an interview recorded last month and broadcast on Monday night on Channel Seven's Today Tonight, Mr Ilhan said he was traumatised by the death of his elder brother Gerald 10 years ago.  "When my brother passed away I struggled, I was so sad, so traumatised by the whole experience, I didn't go to work for three months," he said.  "I just started praying every night and that's what got me through it.  "Until I started praying I couldn't get through it.  "I'd collapse in the shower and cry like a baby, I'd drive my car and cry like a baby."

Mr Ilhan also said he spent the first five years of his mobile phone business spending "all day, all night in the shop worrying about every cent", he said.  Crazy John's has more than 120 retail stores across Australia employing over 700 staff.

Mr Ilhan is survived by his wife Patricia and their four children - daughters Jaida, Hannah and Yasmin, and eight-month-old son Aidan.

©AAP 2007