Dr Dennis Louis Pezaro

Dear Olwyn and family , I’ve thought of you often knowing that not having Dennis with you will have left a huge gap in all your lives. I was unable to attend the memorial service but have watched it on the streaming platform .Some lovely messages and stories for you all to hear. He was a great teacher and I was very privileged to have worked with him for 10 years before he retired . My thoughts are with you all Bid Adams

Dennis spent many hours helping to train St. John volunteers. We were grateful for every bit of knowledge he could impart! Yaweh Shalom.

To Olwyn, Sarah, Carmel and Daniel. We are sad that we cannot be with you today to share in the memories of Dennis. He was the most caring and amazing family doctor, and we have so much gratitude and so many happy memories of time spent with him. Our thoughts are with you all. Martin, Kay, Glen, Ross, and Brian.

So sorry to hear about Dennis's demise. I am unable to come to the memorial service, but my thoughts are with you all, and I will remember the great Dunedin times and also the Nga Tawa Reunions. Olwyn, my thoughts are with you and your family, and I'm sure it will be a great life celebration

when I noticed Dennis's death notice in the ODT today (18 April 2026), I was reminded of the time my father, Gordon Churchman, had a stroke, I think while chopping wood, possibly in Wanaka, while my parents were holidaying there from Dunedin in about 1977-8. Dennis attended to him and I know that both my mother and father were indebted to him for my father (then only about 56) being able to survive and to live a useful and enjoyable life at least for another 4-5 years. I have always remembered the high regard in which they held Dennis as a caring country doctor.

How do you give tribute to a wonderful doctor, teacher and family man. I worked with Dennis in the late 1970s and he taught me so much about family medicine. Dennis was the epitome of the family GP who was always there for his patients, to the extent that his young family did not see a lot of him. It was the surgery family of the Pezaro's, Galloway's, Wellman's, Hunt's and I was included. They were very busy times, but good times. Thoughts are with Olwyn and family.

Olwyn, I'm writing on behalf of the Committee and membership of SeniorNet Wanaka. Dennis and you were both long-time members of SeniorNet,and in the last couple of years Dennis was also on the Committee and was very much appreciated for that. It was only the middle of this year that he volunteered a presentation on how to follow family members' overseas trips and you and daughter Sarah delivered it. Whatever he did. Dennis, in his quiet way, enriched the activity. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Dear Olwyn, We were so sorry to hear of Denis’s death.Although only a year or two older than most of us,Denis was always the mature,fatherly friend to many of us in his Medical School year.His wisdom,humour and concern for others were all features that we loved. He was very lucky to have you and a loving family to support him in his life’s work. All our love in this trying time, Mike and Trish

Dear Olwyn, I’ve just heard of Dennis’s death. Pamela I had deep respect for Dennis. I have happy memories of him as friend, medical class-mate and flat mate at York Towers where I met you. You’ve been such a loving support over the many years since. As you know, Dennis was my groomsman at Pamela’s and my wedding. Unfortunately, the tyranny of distance has meant only occassional contact since then, but I always very much valued our meeting at Class of ’68 reunions and in Wanaka since. I admired Dennis’s GP work over so long in Wanaka, seeing it first hand while accompanying him on his rounds on one visit. Pamela and I send our deep sympathy to you and your family. Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tāne. Russell Tregonning. PS I’ll be grateful if you can let me know of the date and place of Dennis’s memorial service in the new year.

Even though I have not lived in Dunedin in nearly 20 years, I have still got fond memories of Dennis making the long shlep to Dunners to take part in a Passover or Yom Kippur service. In the case of the former, it would also involve of course a nice meal afterwards and for Dennis, satisfaction that although he lived far away, was still finding time to fulfil his religious obligations. He was an interesting man and was never short of telling a good story. Memories like these are precious to hold onto. A long life goes out to his family.

Dear Olwyn, David and I remember Dennis with fondness and gratitude. His advice to us on child-rearing was never forgotten. Living in the Catlins in the 70s was challenging, and catching up with you from time to time has made some lovely memories. Wishing you and the family long life.

Dear Olwyn and Family, We read in the NZ Herald of Dennis’s passing and feel so so sad and at the same time how lucky and grateful we were knowing him for such a very long time, in fact right back to Med School days where Dennis and Derek were in the same dissection room. Then our wedding where he gave a great speech, followed by our early Cardrona ski days where all of us even stayed at your house one year!!! His and Olwyn’s devotion to the people in Wanaka and beyond has been far reaching! Dennis will be missed by so many and we send the Family our love and very many large hugs! Derek and Jill Rothwell