Crash dad, baby son farewelled
Friends and family have farewelled a father and his baby son who died in a crash after their car collided with a bus in Mt Eden.
Christopher Tobin, 51, and his baby son Jack, 15 months, were buried together, sharing a coffin which had been decorated with colourful messages.
A joint funeral service was held for the pair yesterday afternoon at Manukau Memorial Gardens in south Auckland.
Tobin’s daughter Elle, 2, also injured in the crash, was able to attend the service in a tiny wheelchair. She has been recovering in Starship hospital since the crash last Tuesday.
Tobin’s other daughter Vivienne, 5, spoke at the service saying, “I love my dad so much, he always makes me laugh.”
His partner Olivia Kronfield — mother of his three youngest children — also spoke briefly, as did his eldest son, saying: “He always told us he was going to live till 500 — I think everyone just believed him.”
About 200 mourners packed the church, many of them dressed in yellow — Tobin’s favourite colour.
Friends wore black T-shirts with yellow writing reading: “Rock n’ roll forever. Rest in peace Chris.”
The celebrant said Tobin was an “outrageous, hardcore man who loved his family and loved his friends”. Songs played included the Beatles’ Let it Be and Come Together and Elvis’ All Shook Up.
Jack was described as a “cheeky, loving, adorable boy. Placid and chilled”. A friend said “at least Jack is with his dad”.
Another said: “He was loving, creative and he loved art. He was sociable enjoying the company of others but mostly he loved his beautiful woman and his beautiful children of whom he was protective and adoring.”
A Givealittle page has been set up to raise money for the Tobin family. It has now raised nearly $46,000.
— Carolyne Meng-Yee