"He certainly didn't stand on the side of the road and let life pass him by. He was right in the middle of the fray giving his input to make his community better," Doris said. "He was fiery, opinionated, an extremely intelligent person."

Many say they will remember "Rexie" as a contradiction.

On the one side, those who knew him saw an unwavering drive that manifested in a severe and sometimes bully-like personality.

But he was also caring, sensitive, generous and a fiercely loyal friend, they add.

"There are a lot of people who love him and a lot of people who hate him and not many people in between -- a fantastic character," said longtime friend Roy Wood.

"I'll remember his intelligence, his generosity. Everything was competitive, but there was never any rancor about it," added Wood, who also knew Mr. Rexe as a fellow schoolmate, teaching colleague, alderman and golf partner.

Former mayor Sylvia Sutherland was often a target of Mr. Rexe. The two butted heads publicly on many issues, but that didn't stop Sutherland from twice appointing him chairman of the city's finance committee.

"He was a man of ideas. There was a side of Paul that was very kind and gentle and caring and there was a side of him that could really get people upset," she said. "We walked many a road together. He certainly sparked a public dialogue in this community on many issues and frequently he was right."

Mr. Rexe died at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

He is survived by his daughters Deanna (Gerald), Jessica and Katherine; grandchildren Hillary, Georgia, and Charles; siblings Stephen (Maureen), Michael and Jeffrey (Janet); a large extended family; wife Rennie Marshall and former wives Ann Lewington and Sally Adams.

"Our father died as he lived, with a fighting spirit, an irrepressible sense of humour and surrounded by the close friends and family he loved," daughter Kate Rexe said.

Mr. Rexe was born June 5, 1944, in Kingston, the first child of Ruth and John Rexe, who was posted there as a pilot trainer.

The family returned home to Peterborough when Mr. Rexe was five, buying a place on Rose Ave. where they raised their five boys, including Ruth's youngest brother.

He went to Confederation Public School and Kenner Collegiate, where academics placed second behind "playing sports and chasing girls," he toldThe Examinerin 2006.

He earned a BA in history and economics in 1968 at Trent University and a B. Sc in anthropology in 1970.

He also received a teaching diploma from the University of Toronto, teaching at TASSS, Kenner and Crestwood.

"I think he was in many ways a phenomenal teacher because he was such a showman. He was a tremendously hard worker whenever he was committed to something," she said.

He ran for council when he was just 28 years old and was elected in 1972.

One of Mr. Rexe's biggest controversies was in 1987 when he was kicked off city council by judicial order for not properly declaring a conflict of interest between his role as a councillor and as his position as a consultant on a real-estate deal.

Throughout a 35-year span he spent 10 years on council, operated a beef farm and grew his consulting business through the 1990s, offering advice on contracts for groups as diverse as SPAR Aerospace to the federal Industry Department.

He went back to Trent, too, earning a Masters in Canadian studies in 1994. He also wrote a column forThe Examiner between 1998 and 2003.

Mr. Rexe was a founding member of the Kenner Foundation and sat as board chairman between 1994 and 2008.

The non-profit organization raises money for student bursaries and scholarships.

Mr. Rexe returned to council in the 2003 election handily winning Otonabee Ward but his dreams at the top office ended when he was crushed in an eight-way race for mayor in the Nov. 13, 2006 election to Paul Ayotte.

His image was tarred by a very public incident with a female friend when he was charged with assault (which was later dropped) and breaching two court orders. Mr. Rexe also waged a longtime battle with Revenue Canada concerning tax credits his business received.

Friend and former councillor Glenn Pagett will remember Mr. Rexe's resolute friendship and his dedication to his community.

"Paul Rexe to me has been a first-class friend," he said. "I'm going to remember him as one of the smartest, astute councillors I ever served with in my 30 years."

Visitation will be held at Sadleir House at 751 George St. Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. Services will be held at St. John's Anglican on Thursday at 11 a.m. with reception to follow at the church.

A private family inurnment will take place at Little Lake Cemetery.

The family encourages donations to the Kenner Foundation to be made at www.CommunityAlternative.caor by calling Community Alternative Funeral Home at 742-1875.