Dr Horst-Dieter Rennau:Dr Horst-Dieter Rennau, who has died in Vienna after an illness, was Austrian ambassador to Ireland since January 2005. His death has come as a shock to his many friends and colleagues in Dublin who were expecting him to return to his duties this month.
Dr Rennau was on his last diplomatic posting and would have retired in 2007. He had had a long and distinguished diplomatic career in which he served in numerous posts abroad including Nigeria, Norway, Argentina, Ethiopia, Chile, Colombia and Albania, as well as holding responsible positions in the foreign ministry in Vienna.
He was seen as a diplomat with a style and old-world courtesy now dying out as younger ambassadors are promoted.
He was much appreciated by the Austrian community in Ireland and especially by the Irish-Austrian Society, at whose annual dinner he was to have been guest of honour this month.
The vice-president of the society, Paul Dubsky, said that Dr Rennau had quickly adapted to his new life in Dublin. There was a belief that this appointment was seen as a "reward" for his long service in often demanding foreign postings. He had just come from a three-year stint as ambassador in Tirana, Albania.
He had been very supportive of the Irish-Austrian Society and generous in opening the embassy and its grounds to various functions. He had planned to take a swim in the Irish Sea, Mr Dubsky said, but had not got around to it.
He had been very active in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the end of the four-power post-war occupation of Austria. The celebrations included a concert in the Royal Dublin Society and a photographic exhibition.
The ambassador of Malta, Richard Muscat, said he had lost a good friend with the death of Dr Rennau, whom he described as "one of the most accomplished diplomats" he had met.
"He had a beautiful, human quality. He was a gentleman of the old school, so correct, so respectful, so understanding and with the right word for all occasions."
Dr Rennau had represented the recent Austrian presidency of the EU "with class", said Mr Muscat and had been very attentive to keeping his fellow EU ambassadors up to date. Dr Rennau was very happy to be in Ireland on his last post and saw it as a kind of "crowning" of his career.
"He loved Dublin and the way of life here and the country's energies," said Mr Muscat. He was also "a man of prayer and faith" as an Austrian Catholic.
The Belgian ambassador, Leopold Carrewyn, said that Dr Rennau had been an excellent ambassadorial colleague and "we are all very upset" at the news of his death.
During the Austrian EU presidency last year, he had done an excellent job, he said. When in Ethiopia he had done a lot of charitable work privately which is still remembered there, Mr Carrewyn - who had also served in Ethiopia - recalled.
Dr Rennau was born in Salzburg on September 8th, 1942. After legal studies in the University of Salzburg he entered the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. He joined the Austrian foreign service in December 1973. During 1975-1985 he served abroad in the embassies in Nigeria, Norway and Argentina.
His first ambassadorial appointment was to Ethiopia in 1988-1993. He formed a close attachment to the country and kept up links with people there.
He helped support an Ethiopian family, a son of which was recently awarded a PhD in Vienna, which gave him great pride. He also had a valuable collection of Ethiopian religious artefacts.
Dr Rennau is survived by his second wife, Ruthilde, and a son and daughter from his first marriage. His funeral service will take place in Vienna on December 13th.
Dr Horst-Dieter Rennau: born September 8th, 1942; died December 2nd, 2006.