Patrick Joseph (Pat) Mear
1946 – 2018

It is with great sadness New Zealand Trucking records the passing of another of the road transport industry‘s stalwarts.

Patrick Joseph Mear, legendary trailer builder, known to all of us as Pat, died at his Papamoa home on 6 May 2018, aged 71 years.

It has been a difficult period for our industry. Along with many highlights, there have been sad points, including the recent loss of this magazine‘s own John Murphy, Transport Technology‘s Geoff Walsh, and now Pat.

It is perhaps a tribute to all three men – and to our industry – that their funerals and life celebrations attracted hundreds of their contemporaries, competitors, customers, and even newcomers to our industry.

The road transport industry of New Zealand embraces the future, but – rightly – honours its past.

Pat was not born into trailer building, his family were dairy farmers in Waerenga Valley near Te Kauwhata. But when he did reach the industry in the late 60s he characteristically grasped it with both hands, and until his retirement in 2011 he never let it go.

Photo: Pat and Eveleen Mear, pictured at the recent McCurdy Engineering‘s 50th anniversary celebrations.

In December 1991, Pat, together with Lyall McGee, Ross Bell and Bill Lacey, formed Roadmaster Trailers with very little capital and no plant. Roadmaster soon became, as it remains today, one of the largest and most respected of our trailer builders.

It would also be true to say that Pat, along with others such as Neil Peterken, transformed our industry. It was Pat and Neil who brought curtainsiders and B-trains to our shores. It is those trailers, Roadmaster and the Mear name though his three sons and one grandson in the industry, that will live on as legacies of one of our greats. We honour that. Pat, you were and are a true legend.

Pat ‘s celebration of his life was held at Legacy Garden near his Papamoa home, on 10 May. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Eveleen, their five children, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.