Luigi Anastasia was well recognised for his passionate, kind and gentle qualities after working 37 years for the Dulux Decorator Centre (DDC).

During these years he alternated between working at the Bushey Mill Lane branch and the one in Hampstead North, but Luigi always called the Watford branch his “happy place”.

Luigi passed away on January 22 after contracting Covid-19, and his loss has left a shock to staff and customers at the DDC alike.

Bushey Mill Lane branch manager Connie Reynolds said: “Luigi was our best salesmen in the DDC business, he could sell ice to an Eskimo, he was so good at what he did. He did it with passion, kindness, gentleness – he just did it in a way by wanting to help people.

“His motto was very simple; ‘I just want to make people happy and do the best that I can.’

“For him it was about spreading joy and happiness and having fun doing it at the same time.”

Being well known throughout the business, Luigi had seen it go through many changes as he first joined when the business was called Mcdougall Rose.

Ms Reynolds explains that hardworking Luigi oversaw how the business adapted, and he was able to adapt with all the changes – and was more than grateful to continue working throughout the pandemic and lockdown.

She said: “It was very difficult to get Luigi to get time off, to take holiday. It’s such a unique character and passion that you don’t see today.”

“He’s just going to be a massive loss. A little bit of Watford DDC has died with him, because this store was really what he was.”

A tribute table set up for Luigi (Photo: Connie Reynolds)

Many customers have come forward to pay their respects after a tribute table was placed near the front of the store. Ms Reynolds explained that a lot of people recognised Luigi due to his notable presence and ability to charm customers and sell a lot of products.

She continued: “We had a string of customers coming in who still can’t believe he’s not here.”

“He was really well known inside our business and outside our business. I went to Asda last week just to pick up some treats because they were down and I got chatty to the cashier and low and behold, she knew Luigi because he helped her with colour choices for paint. He left a massive impression on people.”

He leaves behind his wife Giacoma and two sons Joe and Don.

A funeral is being held next Wednesday, and his sons explained that the hearse will stop off next to the shop at around 9.30am, allowing those that knew him to briefly pay their respects outside in a socially distanced manner.

A GoFundMe page was launched to go directly and support the family. To donate, visit: https://gofund.me/990b5148

We have a new website section dedicated to your Covid-19 messages and tributes. If you know someone who you want to thank, praise, remember or pay tribute to, we would be honoured if you were to leave your messages, poems, stories and artwork here.