Former governor general Romeo LeBlanc died Wednesday morning at his home in Grande Digue, N.B., after a long battle with Alzheimer's and suffering a stroke in the last months of his life. He was 81.

LeBlanc served as Canada's first Acadian governor general from 1995 to 1999 after a long career of public service.

He was born in the farming community of Memramcook, in southeastern New Brunswick, in 1927 and went on to earn both bachelor of arts and bachelor of education degrees from the Universite de Saint-Joseph, what is now the University of Moncton.

LeBlanc spent nine years working as a teacher before turning to journalism in 1960, working as a correspondent for Radio-Canada.

His journalism experience led him to his next career as a press secretary to prime ministers Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, with whom he remained close friends.

LeBlanc was first elected a member of parliament in 1972 and served as a cabinet minister from 1974 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984.

He was Canada's longest-serving fisheries minister, and gained the admiration of fishermen on the East Coast when he helped establish the 200-mile fishing limit around Canada as well as the International Law of the Sea.

LeBlanc was appointed to the Senate in 1984 and became Speaker of the Senate in 1993.

On Wednesday afternoon, CTV's chief political correspondent Craig Oliver called LeBlanc's career "one of the most stunning careers in Canadian political history."

"What I would want to say about him mostly is this was a guy completely without pretension," Oliver told CTV News Channel. "He was just as comfortable sipping tea at Buckingham Palace with the Queen and Prince Philip as he was sitting in a New Brunswick pub having a beer with the boys. That's exactly the kind of guy he was, and to me that describes Romeo totally. And I think that kind of personality of his had a lot to do with his success in politics. He was extraordinarily warm and a very, very nice guy."

In his home province, New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham called LeBlanc "a seminal figure in the Acadian renaissance and a senior voice for New Brunswickers of all backgrounds throughout Canada and the world."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said LeBlanc's family and friends will miss him, and also those "who knew him only as a public figure, one whose personal warmth and dedication to duty and his country are his legacy."

The federal government has begun arranging a state funeral for LeBlanc, likely to take place in Memramcook on July 3.

LeBlanc's son, Dominic, followed his father into federal politics in 1997, when we won the riding of Beausejour.

On Wednesday, Dominic LeBlanc said his father had come from humble roots before entering the world of politics.

"(He was) the youngest of seven children in a small rural New Brunswick parish, the only one to go beyond Grade 8 in school because the Holy Cross fathers -- a religious order of priests who ran a classical college -- took some cords of wood from his father as sort of down payment on tuition to heat the college in winter," he said.

The elder LeBlanc believed in using his public service jobs to try to create opportunities for others.

"I was always struck by his very great and sincere compassion. He was somebody who thought that if you wanted to be in public life ... the most important value was compassion and a sense that you could help others who were less fortunate than yourself. ...," his son said.

"He was forever modest and self-effacing and someone without any pretension at all."

The younger LeBlanc had sought the leadership of the Liberal Party before abandoning the race to throw his support behind Michael Ignatieff.

Controversial appointment

LeBlanc's appointment to the governor general's post was controversial, with some opposition politicians decrying the move as a patronage appointment.

Both Reform Party Leader Preston Manning and Bloc Quebecois Leader Lucien Bouchard did not attend his swearing-in.

Then-prime minister Jean Chretien countered the criticism by saying at the time that LeBlanc's career trajectory was an example of how much francophones have contributed to Canada's development.

"It reminds us ... that our country's unity was built in diversity and that this diversity is also our strength," said Chretien.

"In fact, it is a fundamental characteristic of our nation."

LeBlanc overcame the controversy by making Rideau Hall more open to the public, including hosting a garden party in 1997 that drew 10,000 visitors.

He also proclaimed June 21 National Aboriginal Day and established the Caring Canadian Awards, which still honour citizens that go to extraordinary lengths to help others.

"If I am to be known for anything I would like it to be for encouraging Canadians," LeBlanc said. "For knowing a little bit about their daily extraordinary courage and for wanting that courage to be recognized."

LeBlanc is survived by his wife, Diana Fowler LeBlanc, and four children.

With files from The Canadian Press