ANDY Thomas loved the natural world, was passionate about spiritual development, and is described by those who knew him as "inspirational".
The 65-year-old from West Bridgford died on March 6 after a short battle with lung cancer.
His treatments brought pain relief to thousands of people across Notts.
Now he has inspired his family and friends to set up the Andy Thomas Foundation to help support his beliefs and continue his charity work.
"Aside from his family, his great loves were sustainable living and spiritual development in terms of yoga and healing," said Liz Thomas, his wife of 26 years.
"He was very much into treading gently on the earth.
"The word that keeps coming up as people describe Andy is 'inspirational' and he has inspired us to create a foundation that will go on supporting the causes that meant the most to him.
"He was a very special person and will be sorely missed by many people."
The foundation will support local good causes that are sympathetic to his loves of environmental planting and the development of children and teenagers.
Born in 1945 in Withernsea, the first child of a military family, Andy spent much of his childhood travelling around Europe as a result of his father's postings.
He enjoyed an adventurous childhood with younger brother Peter.
He returned to England at the age of 15 and became an apprentice engineer with Rolls-Royce in Derby before he and his first wife Diana opened Body Shop franchises in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
One was in Derby and two were in Nottingham, including the Bridlesmith Gate store.
Mr Thomas became interested in alternative health and therapy and trained to be an osteopath and massage therapist.
He began practising as a therapist in 1985 from his West Bridgford home.
He looked at methods used in China, Russia and America, and developed his own way of working, which he termed the full movement method.
He treated thousands of people in Notts for muscle and joint pains, immobility and malfunction.
Among his patients were international sportsmen and women, actors and dancers.
He sought an alternative treatment to his illness in keeping with his beliefs.
He also launched the Shanti Yoga School and his daughter-in-law Elan was among those he taught, and other teachers have spread his methods to Ireland and Holland.
Four books he wrote on yoga raised money for abandoned and orphaned children at the Calvary Zion Children's Home in Mombasa, Kenya.
As well as practising yoga and tai chi daily, Mr Thomas also played his guitar every day and was a particular fan of classical and flamenco music.
He enjoyed spending time in Spain, where the family had a home, and embraced the local community.
His other passions included fast cars. He enjoyed the thrill of racing at Silverstone and Brands Hatch.
One of his greatest loves was sustainable living and growing, and he was involved in a project to create a community orchard at Car Colston, near Bingham, where more than 100 fruit trees have been planted.
He also supported and donated to Greenpeace, ActionAid, Amnesty International and The Soil Association among other causes.
He was a key member of the Tuesday Hearts – a Nottingham group of entrepreneurial people with innovative ideas – and enjoyed mentoring.
A committed family man who was a hands-on dad and grandfather, he leaves wife Liz, son James, 42, and daughter-in-law Elan, 40, daughters Eleanor, 39, and Hannah, 20, son Sam, 18, and grandchildren India and Grace, both 13, and Molly, nine, and Healey, five.
His funeral service was set to take place at St Peter's Church, Nottingham, at 11am today.
Find out about his foundation at www.andythomasfoundation.co.uk
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