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Volume3 Issue2
O
bituaries
REMEMBERING
DENTISTRYLEADERS
Dr. DavidK. Petersof St. John’s, Newfoundland, passedaway
on January8, 2016. Hewas 89yearsold.
Agiftedclinician, Dr. Peters received theAlphaOmega
plaque for highest academic standing indentistrywhenhe
graduated fromDalhousieUniversity in1950. Hewent on to
establishhisdental office inSt. John’s,wherehepractised
until his retirement in2006.
Adevoteddentist andgregariousman,Dr. Peters
combinedbusinesswithpleasurebygetting involved in
organizeddentistry. He servedaspresident of theNew-
foundlandDental Association, chair of theCanadianFund for
Dental Education, and in1972–73aspresident of CDA.
“Davidwas awonderful humanbeingwhohada remark-
ablegift for communicatinghis feelings inamost honest
manner,” remembersDr. JohnO’Keefe, director of CDA
KnowledgeNetworks. “Formehewas alsoa respected
professional colleague, avaluedmentor andadear friend.”
Dr. Peters’ passion for advancing
theprofessionandnurturinghis
community resulted inmany
awards andaccolades, including
theOutstandingAlumni Award
fromDalhousieUniversity, CDA
HonouraryMembership, the
DentistryCanadaFund’sOut-
standingPhilanthropyAward for
Dentistry, andmembershipwith
thePierreFauchardAcademyand
International CollegeofDentists.
Healso received theQueenEliza-
beth II Silver JubileeMedal in1977
in recognitionof hisoutstanding
contribution tohisprofessionand
community.
“In theworldof Canadiandentistry, Davidwas agiant,” says
Dr. O’Keefe. “Hewas thefirstNewfoundlander tobecome
CDApresident, andhehas receivedalmost everyhonour
that thedental professionbestowson itsmost accom-
plishedmembers.”
Outsideof dentistry, Dr. Peterswas a talentedorganist and
amuch-lovedand respectedchoir director. Heplayed
many recitalsbefore live audiences for radio and television
shows andmusic festivals, andhismale chorusperformed
at Expo67 andonParliamentHill. A long-timemember of
theKiwanisClubof St. John’s, he served asgovernor of the
EasternCanada andCaribbeanDistrict andwas oneof
the founders of theSt. John’s KiwanisMusic Festival.
Dr. Peterswasmadeahonourary lifememberof the
FederationofCanadianMusicFestivalsand inducted into
theKiwanisFestivalHall ofHonour. Uponhis retirement, he
tookon the colossal taskof cataloguingeverypipeorgan in
his homeprovinceonbehalf of theRoyal CanadianCollege
ofOrganists, anorganizationofwhichhewas the founding
president.
Music scholarshipsbearhisnameatbothMemorialUniversity
andDalhousieUniversity.When the full-tuition scholarships
wereannouncedatMemorial University, Dr. Peters ex-
pressedhishope that theywouldhelp studentsovercome
somefinancial obstacles tobetter propel their talent beyond
their local community.
Always living life to the fullest, Dr. Peters “completeda10-
mile road race inhis 79thyear andhiked to the summit of
GrosMorneMountain, the secondhighest peak inNew-
foundland, onhis 80thbirthday,” remembershisdaughter
Gillian,who followed inher father’s footsteps andpractises
inSt. John’s.
Dr. Peters is survivedbyhis four children, Ruth, Jane, Gillian,
andDavid.
a
DR.DAVIDPETERS
DavidPetersatCochrane
StreetUnitedChurch
