Longtime members of the Massachusetts Republican Party remembered former state Treasurer Alfred Fondacaro fondly on Thursday for his tireless work for the party.

Fondacaro died on Nov. 28 at 80 years old from complications of pneumonia, according to the Boston Globe's obituary.

"Al was a great guy who had a huge heart," said Ron Kaufman, a veteran Boston GOP strategist who knew Fondacaro well. "He really cared about not just the party, but the country. It sounds hokey but he's that kind of guy."

Fondacaro was a longtime member of the GOP's state committee and served as the state's treasurer. Kaufman, who is also a confidant of former Gov. Mitt Romney, said Forndacaro was a tireless worker for the party.

"He was always giving and never asking," Kaufman said. "He was always at the state headquarters and always the first guy to volunteer. As he got older we used to tell him, 'you have to go home for your health's sake.'"

Peter Blute, a former Republican congressman from Worcester, recalled Fondacaro for being down to earth and easy to get along with.

"Al was a great guy," Blute said. "He was a great activist and just an all around nice guy. He was a regular guy Republican and we need more of them."

Blute said Fondacaro was a ubiquitous presence at party functions and on campaigns.

"He was an urban Republican, from the old school," Blute said. "He just was a great guy. I saw the obituary and was very saddened."

Peter Torkildsen, the chairman of the Massachusetts GOP and a former congressman, echoed Blute's remarks. "He helped more Republicans than I can remember," he said. "All of my memories of him are either at events or at campaign offices."

"He was always doing something to help the Republican Party overall," Torkildsen added.

Kaufman also said that Fondacaro served as mentor to many, including himself. He was always loyal, Kaufman added, something that isn't common in politics.

"A lot of times in this business you don't know where people stand," Kaufman said. "Al was one of those guys that would lead with his heart and not care whether his candidate was going to win or lose because he believed in his candidate."

"He was a special guy," Kaufman added.