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Christ Church Anglican Church in Warkworth was packed last month for the funeral of Dr David Cross, who died on March 1 following a short illness. He was 92.
Dr Cross served as general practitioner in Warkworth for 40 years. Speaking at the service, former partner Dr Warwick Palmer described Dr Cross as a gentle, generous, kind and caring man.
He said Dr Cross, along with Dr John Andrew, built a medical practice that was a model of holistic care for the Mahurangi region and an invaluable training ground for students.
“The good he has done for this community is immeasurable,” he said.
Dr Cross was born in 1926 and grew up in Northcote. He would cycle each morning to catch a ferry to Auckland and then a tram to attend Auckland Grammar School, where he won a junior scholarship.
He went on to study medicine at Otago Medical School where he also played hockey. It was while playing hockey that he suffered a fractured skull which might prematurely have ended his life but he made a full recovery.
While in Dunedin, he met his future wife Margaret and they were married in Wanganui on December 19, 1951, one day before Dr Cross’ birthday.
He was fond of saying she was the best birthday present he ever had.
After graduating from medical school, Dr Cross worked as a house surgeon in various hospitals. He later travelled to London to secure a diploma in obstetrics, earning his passage by working as an assistant to the ship’s doctor.
On returning to New Zealand, he settled in Warkworth. For about a year he was the sole general practitioner, on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, before being joined by Dr Andrew.
Dr Cross’ eldest son Jonathan recalled accompanying his father on house calls in a blue-grey Morris Minor – covering the Dome Valley in the north to Puhoi in the south, and from coast to coast. Back then, apart from the main highway to Whangarei, all the roads were loose metal.
Dr Cross would also attend serious accidents, including a shipwreck one stormy night, when a yacht sailed into the rocks off Leigh and a number of lives were lost.
Beyond medicine, Dr Cross was a founding member of the Warkworth Rotary Club, had a lifelong commitment to his church, was a passionate gardener and sang in numerous choirs.
His daughter Bridget Gibson recalled that following his retirement her father took up painting and was good at it.
“There is a David Cross original masterpiece that disappeared en route to Invercargill. We can only hope someone, somewhere has it hanging in a pride of place and is appreciating it,” she said.
Jonathan said his father was a big part of people’s lives and many people he meets recount how Dr Cross delivered their children or even themselves.
“We were aware we shared him and did not see as much of him as maybe other fathers. But we felt very blessed to have him. He was a very kind and generous man,” he said.
The sentiment was echoed by other family members.
His son Tim said his father was humble and selfless and the “ultimate people person”.
“If I can use a southern analogy, if there was only one bottle of Speights left, I’m pretty sure he would have made someone else drink it,” he said.
His widow Margaret said: “He was my soulmate and love of my life for 67 years, What more can I say?”
Just days after Dr Cross’ death, his younger brother Warwick died of heart disease on March 4.
Dr Cross has three surviving children and seven grandchildren.
