David Christopher Cordery
5023 Aged 89
David, the son of Ernest Cordery (2636), attended College from 1941 to 1945 in Harper House.
David’s main interests in his latter years were centred on Christian fellowship and Bible study. In 2007 he and Sharon established a meeting in their home where once a month Christian friends from around the area gathered for fellowship and encouragement. This gathering was to continue for nine years. A treasured possession of David’s was an antique Victorian oak desk chair given to him by his great uncle Tom Condell (123), the first Old Boy to become a member of the teaching staff at Christ’s College. The most memorable event at school for David was honouring the over 204 Old Boys who gave their lives during World War 2. David’s interests included tennis, music, water colour painting, gardening and serious Bible study (this being his main interest in the last 30-40 years of his life). David is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sharon; sons John (8065) and Michael (8466); daughter Sarah, and two step-daughters Kerensa and Ilana and 12 grandchildren.
Following his graduation from Medical School at Otago University in 1952, David worked for two years as a house surgeon at Palmerston North Hospital. He then practised in Opotiki for nine years as a GP before leaving for London to study radiotherapy at Middlesex Hospital, returning to Palmerston North in 1967 to take up a position as radiotherapist in the embryonic cancer treatment facilities being established at Palmerston North Hospital. In 1982, David was appointed Director of the Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, a position he retained until his retirement in February 1994. On retirement as a radiation oncologist, David and Sharon spent eight months overseas, including six months working as volunteers in a Christian guest house on Mount Carmel, Israel. On returning to New Zealand they settled in Howick, Auckland. After nine years they moved to Thames establishing a new home and together created a small arboretum and a lovely garden with expansive views overlooking the Firth of Thames, hills, bush and rivers and fabulous sunsets. In 1953 David married Shirley Adams. He remarried to Sharon Beer in 1982.
Chronicle 2017
11
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