It is with a sense of sadness that we report the passing of our friend and colleague, Dr Michael Eade

Dear NZSG Members,

It is with a sense of sadness that we report the passing of our friend and colleague, Dr Michael Eade, following a short illness. Several of our members have outlined some of his achievements and contributions. 

From Dr Paul Frankish
NZSG member and long-standing colleague at North Shore Hospital

Mike Eade was a well-trained gastroenterologist; initially in Birmingham with Trevor Cooke where he completed an MD-apparently one of the longest theses ever submitted there!  He spent time at Stanford, before taking up a post of Senior Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Auckland where he joined the first tranche of teachers at the then new School of Medicine in 1970.

Mike was an enthusiastic teacher of undergraduates in GI physiology for many years, while maintaining his skills in clinical gastroenterology at Auckland Hospital until 1984. He then moved to the new North Shore hospital as a general physician/gastroenterologist until his retirement from the public system in 2001. He continued in private practice for several years afterwards.

Outside of medicine, Mike had many interests including music and sport. He played in a social cricket team for many years and was a keen follower of test cricket particularly.

We will miss Mike for his devotion to his patients, his thirst for knowledge, his commanding speaking voice and his eccentric dress sense. Farewell Mike.

From Dr Ian Wallace
Past President NZSG, long-standing North Shore Hospital colleague and friend

Mike was one of the founding members of our Society and one of its earliest Presidents. Mike combined exceptional clinical skills with a sound knowledge of physiology leading him to be a consummate General Physician and Gastroenterologist of the “old school”.

Mike was a man of considerable intellect with strong (well founded) opinions on a range of issues which occasionally saw him in conflict with hospital management on issues of new policies.

Following his retirement, we had coffee 2 or 3 times a month where he regaled me with his various theories and opinions, including explaining to me String Theory (which I confess I still do not understand).  Allied with his considerable intellect, Mike was an avid writer and some of his work relating to his family is now in the National Archives.

On a personal note, I was privileged to know Mike as a beloved friend and colleague at North Shore Hospital and in private Practice for 32 years. He was always available to give advice on matters clinical and otherwise. What always struck me was his commitment to the well-being of his patients. 

Mike often expressed pride in the achievements of his three sons (including having families of their own) and acknowledged the role his loving wife, Pat, played in their upbringing, family life and development.

From Dr Gil Barbezat
Retired Gastroenterologist

I was greatly saddened to read of the death of our highly respected friend and colleague Mike Eade. He was one of those memorable people who I aways looked forward to seeing during visits to Auckland. He was easily and invariably identified in a crowd by his light-coloured shoes. His interests were very wide, extending far beyond the medical sphere, and his expertise in so many areas often impressed those in his company.

His sometimes idiosyncratic views on teaching were backed by a lifelong dedication to his specialist subject of gastrointestinal physiology and his clinical practice as a specialist physician. His opinion was highly respected by a wide international circle of friends and associates.

He was also very dedicated to his wife, Pat, and their family, and proud of their many positive achievements. I have very fond memories of enjoying the very warm hospitality of their home. I express my sincere condolences to Pat and the family. Mike will be missed in so many ways by so many people. His contribution to the NZ Society of Gastroenterology, especially over the vital years of its maturation into what it is now, has been immense and appreciated widely.

From Dr Zoe Raos
Immediate Past President NZSG, previous student

Auckland graduates of my generation remember Dr Eade and his commanding knowledge of GI physiology, and rigorous teaching rounds on Ward 6 at North Shore Hospital. Decades later, it was a privilege to meet Mike earlier this year. We talked about the history of our Society, and I thanked him in person on behalf of all of us for his significant contribution to gastroenterology. I met members of his whānau who are inspiring and dedicated.

This whakatauki (saying) exemplifies Mike’s spirit of seeking out challenges, knowledge and achievement over a lifetime. 

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei.
Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.

The New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology wish to place on record the sincere condolences of our members to Mike’s family – especially Pat, Peter, Tom and Tim. We acknowledge Mike’s significant contribution as a pioneer and kaumataua - chief - of our Society as an organisation, as well as of Gastroenterology as a specialty in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Ngā mihi nui,