HUNDREDS of people gathered at Hurstville on Tuesday to pay tribute to a man whose life touched hundreds more.
Barry Pearson, veteran general practitioner, Rotary club president and Hurstville Meals on Wheels founder, died on September 17, aged 88.
His adopted son, David Pearson, said Dr Pearson lived a life of significance.
"He was a man that lived for service to others," he said.
"You only need to look at his work with Rotary, Meals on Wheels and many other things.
"He was very passionate about his family and his work as well.
"He was still working shortly before he died, and some of his patients were the fourth generation from families he had treated."
Born in Newcastle in January 1924, Dr Pearson grew up throughout NSW before finishing his schooling at North Sydney Boys High.
He enlisted to serve with the navy in World War II and witnessed the Japanese submarine attack on Sydney Harbour before transferring to the air force.
Then known as "Lucky Pearson", he survived crash landings at the controls of a Tiger Moth biplane in Victoria and qualified as a Spitfire pilot, although fortuitous timing saw him spared from active duty in the war.
Dr Pearson then undertook medical training at Sydney University, and worked at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, before moving to the Ashby Medical Centre at Penshurst in 1952.
He gave more than 50 years' service to the clinic and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2006 for his services to the medical profession.
He also served as Rotary Club of Hurstville president, and established Hurstville Meals on Wheels in the 1960s.
Dr Pearson married Gwen Fox in 1947 and had three children: Michael, Robyn and Warwick.
They divorced and he married Jan Gokel in 1970.
The pair had one son, Stewart, and adopted Jan's son David. He is survived by five children and numerous grandchildren.
LASTING LEGACY
St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation will pay tribute to Dr Barry Pearson with a medical prize in his honour.
The inaugural recipient of the Dr Barry Pearson OAM Research Award will be revealed next month.
St George and Sutherland Medical Research Foundation executive director, David Pich, said Dr Pearson would be remembered in the medical community.
‘‘The board of the foundation has voted to establish this award for 2013 and 2014 to celebrate Dr Pearson’s life and service to the community,’’ Mr Pich said.
‘‘We thought it was quite fitting that we named an award in his honour.’’
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