Peter Farquhar, 69, was looked after in him Maids Moreton home by two former students as his health deteriorated in the final months of his life.
Ben Field, 27, a church warden, and friend 31-year-old Martyn Smith, a magician were arrested this week on suspicion of his murder and the murder of his neighbour Anne Moore-Martin, 83, who also died suddenly after a short illness 18 months later.
A friend of Mr Farquhar told The Times that he had described his former students as being like sons and appreciated their care.
Mr Farquhar, a Christian, emailed friends in October 2015 to say that, while he had been through an "awful patch" and endured a spiritual battle, he was feeling a lot better.
A coroner ruled in 2015 that his death was an accident after a post-mortem examination concluded "acute alcohol intoxication".
Field from Towcester, Northamptonshire, Smith from Redruth, Cornwall, were arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of suspicion of fraud by false representation, conspiracy to defraud and one count of burglary.
They have both been released on bail until 13th February.
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