OBITUARY

Heather Cunningham Graham passed away July 2014

As I look into the sky on this crisp morning in Gauteng the blue is endless, not a wisp of cloud to smudge the canopy... and this is just how clear and without blemish was the lifetime commitment and dedication of Heather... a true professional, a constant friend, the kernel of her family and a lover of life.

To all she did, she brought a boundless enthusiasm, whether defending the goal in hockey, singing in the choir, sailing, or studying and practising dentistry. Heather was a natural for committee work and her abilities were quickly recognised as she was elected to office at both Branch and National levels. She was a Federal Councillor for several years and was President of the KZN Branch in 2010/2011. Rotary membership also culminated in her serving as President of her Club.

Not one to hesitate in debate, Heather will be recalled as a determined and incisive analyst, cutting to the nub of the argument, but never aggressively or maliciously. Her passion for Dentistry rose above any personal ambition and she championed causes leading to enhancement of services to her patients. Tenacious, but always in good humour.

Dr Cunningham-Graham married Stuart Edwards in 1978, having met him on the hockey fields in Zimbabwe where she was at the time practising. Stuart and their four sons have lost a central focus in the family .... their love for Heather will always endure.

Heather was born in Johannesburg, attended Parktown Girls High and entered the Faculty of Dentistry at Wits, graduating in 1977. She represented Wits in the first hockey team and was selected to keep goal for SA Universities. The young student sang in the SABC choir and later, in Durban, to which the family moved in 1980, the dentist fell in love with sailing. Her practice ran from her home on the Berea and it is certain that she would thoroughly enjoy any sight of the sea.

Stuart and the boys can look into that clear sky and know that Heather made a true contribution, created many memories and set standards and examples to which we can all aspire.