It is with an extremely heavy heart that we inform you of the peaceful passing this morning of our dear friend and dedicated Trustee Tubby Teubes. As Tubby’s friends will know, he had made significant progress in his recovery after suffering a stroke late last year, but after a big fall a few weeks ago, Tubby suffered further complications that lead to his passing.
Tubby served as a Trustee of the Players’ Fund for 32 years, from the day of the Fund’s inception until his last injury assistance subcommittee meeting on Monday this week. Tubby served the Players’ Fund both from a management and a “hands on” perspective. He cared deelpy for our recipients and he leaves a legacy of commitment, compassion and caring for everyone he met.
In addition to being on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund, and acting as Chairman of the Injury Assistance Subcommittee, Tubby was also on the Board of the St Joseph’s Marist Brothers College, and held various positions on the Villager Rugby Club committee, including President of the Club.
Tubby was also the Chairman of a Special Needs Unit which cares for mentally handicapped children, and he was involved in coaching and rugby development at Langa township in Cape Town.
Tubby has been married to his wife, Mercia for 40 years and has two children (Paul and Theresa) and five grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers are with his fmaily and friends during this time.
An extract from Pat Tebbutt’sSamaritan of South Africa Rugby (page 19):
“I have not so far mentioned one of the most dedicated people who from the word ‘go’ has been a truly great supporter and stalwart of the Fund. I speak of ‘Tubby’ Teubes.
Hubert Leonard Teubes was educated at Marist Brothers College in Rondebosch [where he was later a board member] and after school he […] joined the staff at Old Mutual. The company assigned him to its office in Sea Point and his early senior rugby career was with the Hamiltons Rugby Club in that area. Well built, strong and fast, Tubby was an excellent fullback and speaks with affection and gratitude of the guidance and coaching, especially in regard to his place kicking, that he got from the great South African fullback, Gerry Brand.
Later, Tubby moved to the Cape Town Southern Suburbs where he joined the Villager Rugby Club. He possessed a most friendly and engaging personality and became one of the most popular members of the club, rising rapidly through its ranks. He was, in turn, club captain, the chairman of the club committee, and finally the president of the club, all of which positions he filled with great distinction.
Tubby [who was part of the WP Rugby management team] was among those who visited the hospital in Bloemfontein every two hours to inquire as to Chris’ [Burger] condition and was actually one of the last people who was with him when he passed away. He was with the team members who went to see Chris Burger’s widow on the side’s return from Bloemfontein and was present at the press conference when Morne du Plessis announced the creation and launch of the Fund. Tubby was an experienced and successful life insurance consultant and advisor and had the secretarial and administrative skills and the necessary facilities to enable him to use them. It was a natural consequence for him to volunteer to be the secretary of the Fund.
Although the structure of the Fund provided for the management committee and a separate Board of Trustees, in practice the two bodies usually came together in joint meetings and Tubby’s secretarial services extended to the affairs of both bodies. He was the Fund’s secretary from 1980 to 1986.”