A larger-than-life figure with endless drive, high standards, warmth and humour.
That is how friends and family described Canberra businessman, billionaire and philanthropist Terry Snow, who died aged 80 in early August.
Most of the Canberra Theatre Centre's 1200 seats were occupied at Mr Snow's public memorial on Monday.
He grew up in Queanbeyan and Deakin as the son of a publican and attended Canberra Grammar School.
Terry was an "inspirational, visionary, adventurous, generous, warm-hearted larrikin," his brother George Snow said in a statement read out by his son Richard Snow.
Raised by a stern father and well-humoured mother, George said they had a free childhood.
"[One] time we got our hands on some fireworks ... and blew up a couple of letterboxes on Melbourne Avenue, realising later one of them was Gough Whitlam's," he wrote.
Terry's son Tom Snow told the gathering his father was born in 1943 when Canberra had a population of around 10,000.
"At the time of his birth and childhood, few - and I might add least of all his school teachers - could have imagined what a role Terry could play [in the life] of this city," Tom said.
"In so many places across this city, you can see Dad's fingerprints.
"He's made an amazing contribution to greater planning and development of Canberra, encouraging and challenging the government."
Terry went into business with his brother George after studying accountancy.
They worked in real estate and property development.
A 1989 article said Capital Property Trust had the highest return of any property trust in Australia at the time.
Mirvac purchased a majority stake in the company in 1996.
Tom said of his father: "He was bold. He was so, so determined. He loved taking risks and he had an unwavering commitment to quality."
Mr Snow developed Canberra Airport after buying it 1998 from the federal government for $65 million.
Son Stephen Byron said Terry "wanted cheaper airfares because he wanted more people to visit his beloved town of Canberra".
"He ended up personally flying as a pilot Richard Branson around the country to meet airport CEOs, [and helped Impulse Airlines founder Gerry McGowan by lending] him the money to pay the deposits on six Boeing 717 aircrafts to ensure that it could become a reality."
He also amassed 2300 acres in Bawley Point, about 40km north-east of Batemans Bay, and created an equestrian centre known as Willinga Park.
Despite having two brothers and attending an all-boys' school, Terry became a staunch supporter of women in business and politics, son Stephen Byron and daughter Georgina Byron said.
That included Kate Carnell, former ACT chief minister, who said Terry encouraged her to run for the ACT assembly.
"Terry was a great mentor to me when I was chief minister, as he was to many others. He had a great vision for Canberra and lots of ideas," she said.
Ms Carnell said she supported Terry's bid for Canberra Airport.
"It was a great outcome for Canberra having a local buy the airport who really wanted to make it special," she said.
"There were quite a number of developers around town at the time who thought Terry had paid for too much. And what did he know about running airports anyway? How wrong they turned out to be."
Despite a busy professional life and many hobbies, the father-of-four was a family man, Georgina said.
"It was a grounded, natural childhood. We always felt loved, and while Tez worked hard, taking on big risks and stress, weekends were sacred with family time," she said.
"It wasn't until I was older that I better understood him and got to know more of his big, warm heart beneath that gruff exterior."
Georgina also called his 48-year marriage with his wife Ginette a beautiful love story.
"He was always so proud of his bride. He'd often say, 'Isn't she the best sheila around'?" she said.
Ginette was a single mother with two children when she met Terry.
"It changed our lives. We went from a broken home to a family of four deeply loved by two wonderful parents," Stephen said.
"I was dad's little accomplice, following him around, shadowing and learning, probably like I did for the rest of my life.
"[He] was a damn genius, albeit quite an unpolished one."
Terry's youngest daughter, Scarlett Gaffey, described her dad as "big-hearted, warm, soft, a razor-sharp mind, tough and at times very scary".
"He was silly, witty, highly inappropriate, crude, pushy, demanding, pedantic, perfectionistic, unconventional, opinionated and visionary," she said.
Terry founded The Snow Foundation with his brother George in 1991.
The family have said the foundation has donated $80 million to more than 100 causes.
Terry's personal passions were supporting children with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness or substance abuse issues, Gabrielle said.
She said he was also passionate about Snow Medical, a program funding medical researchers.
