Emeritus Professor John Parr, who died aged 87, was a pioneering ophthalmologist, a skilled gardener and a true son of Otago. He was also active in community affairs, in particular through Rotary and the Otago Peninsula Trust. Born in Roxburgh, where his father was headmaster of the local school, he grew up with a love of Central Otago. He tramped the hills and worked on farms during his student days. When the family moved to Dunedin, he attended Otago Boys High School and then the University of Otago. He had hoped to be a farmer but family finances made this impossible. His love of the land was not diminished and when he began university studies he was still undecided whether he would become a doctor or an agricultural scientist. Medicine won. John Parr had it in mind to return to Roxburgh and take over the practice of a family friend, but his academic results were so outstanding that specialisation beckoned. Again he faced a dilemma, unsure whether to embrace neurosurgery or ophthalmology. He decided on the latter discipline and in 1949, armed with the New Zealand Travelling Scholarship in Medicine, set off for London. He worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital and by 1952 had completed a Fellowship in Ophthalmology. Back in New Zealand, he spent a short time in private practice but in 1961 was appointed senior ophthalmologist at Dunedin Hospital and a senior lecturer at the Medical School. In 1968 he was appointed Associate Professor (his family enjoyed referring to him as Aspro) and in 1977 was elevated to a personal chair in ophthalmology. The academic department he set up in the Medical School became renowned for its quality. Prof Parr revisited the undergraduate training programme and created a postgraduate programme. For his revolutionary efforts he needed a textbook. None was available, so he wrote his own. It has moved through several editions and is still in use at medical schools in many countries. Nothing but the best would satisfy Prof Parr. He was a demanding teacher who expected students to perform to the highest standards of which they were capable. He was also active on various hospital and medical school committees where he was known for his precision and organising ability. He and his friend neurosurgeon Richard Robinson fought so hard for improvements to facilities and teaching standards that one medical dean christened them cthe Terrible Twinsd. For almost four decades John Parr was at the forefront of his chosen profession and the scientific foundation he had has inspired ophthalmology in this part of the world. In 2008 he was given a Distinguished Service Award by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmogists. After retirement, he returned for a time to his beloved Central Otago, leaving behind a splendid garden in Macandrew Bay and moving to Ettrick. There he took over (and modified and improved) a distinctive garden designed by Graham Miller, who had worked at Glenfalloch. Prof Parr had a great love of alpine plants and became known to nurserymen throughout New Zealand as he sought rare plants. He also imported seeds from overseas. Before the move to Ettrick, Prof Parr spent years in the Rotary Club of Dunedin where he was responsible for setting up a committee which focused on city affairs. During his presidential year in 1966-67 the club produced a hardcover book called Dunedin: Friendly City of the South, much of it written by him. When it went on sale 12,000 copies were sold in short order. The Dunedin City Council later took over distribution and used the book for promotional purposes. As a member of the Roxburgh Rotary Club, Prof Parr was again active in community projects. He was especially interested in the Roxburgh District Medical Trust, giving much time to the challenge of maintaining good health services in the area. He helped and encouraged Dunedin Jaycees to set up the Otago Peninsula Trust and would have been its first chairman had he not been so heavily involved in Rotary. When eventually he did chair the trust, he brought his enthusiasm and innovative skills to the task. For several years he served as chairman of the Glenfalloch Garden Committee, introducing new species and developing previously neglected areas. To the end of his life, Prof Parr was a reader, even though a cruel fate reduced the quality of his eyesight. He subscribed to scientific journals and balanced his diet with the Guardian Weekly, a publication which suited his liberal and questing mind. He was married twice. Diana, his first wife, he met at Moorfields where she was a nursing sister in charge of the private patients ward. A devoted partner, she shared his enthusiasm for gardening and walking for more than 40 years until her death. For the last 14 years of his life he was married to Margaret Swann, a former deputy matron at Dunedin Hospital. She was a great companion, who made it possible for him to remain at home even though his health was failing. Prof Parr was an outstanding doctor and scientist, a plants man and botanist of great ability, a citizen who contributed much, always without fuss, and a loyal friend. He is survived by Margaret and his daughter Alison, a former broadcaster and now an oral historian. The obituary was written by Gordon Parry of Dunedin and was originally published in the 14 November 2009 edition of the Otago Daily Times. We thank them for the reprint permission.

Emeritus Professor John Parr, who died aged 87, was a pioneering ophthalmologist, a skilled gardener and a true son of Otago. He was also active in community affairs, in particular through Rotary and the Otago Peninsula Trust. Born in Roxburgh, where his father was headmaster of the local school, he grew up with a love of Central Otago. He tramped the hills and worked on farms during his student days. When the family moved to Dunedin, he attended Otago Boys High School and then the University of Otago. He had hoped to be a farmer but family finances made this impossible. His love of the land was not diminished and when he began university studies he was still undecided whether he would become a doctor or an agricultural scientist. Medicine won. John Parr had it in mind to return to Roxburgh and take over the practice of a family friend, but his academic results were so outstanding that specialisation beckoned. Again he faced a dilemma, unsure whether to embrace neurosurgery or ophthalmology. He decided on the latter discipline and in 1949, armed with the New Zealand Travelling Scholarship in Medicine, set off for London. He worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital and by 1952 had completed a Fellowship in Ophthalmology. Back in New Zealand, he spent a short time in private practice but in 1961 was appointed senior ophthalmologist at Dunedin Hospital and a senior lecturer at the Medical School. In 1968 he was appointed Associate Professor (his family enjoyed referring to him as Aspro) and in 1977 was elevated to a personal chair in ophthalmology. The academic department he set up in the Medical School became renowned for its quality. Prof Parr revisited the undergraduate training programme and created a postgraduate programme. For his revolutionary efforts he needed a textbook. None was available, so he wrote his own. It has moved through several editions and is still in use at medical schools in many countries. Nothing but the best would satisfy Prof Parr. He was a demanding teacher who expected students to perform to the highest standards of which they were capable. He was also active on various hospital and medical school committees where he was known for his precision and organising ability. He and his friend neurosurgeon Richard Robinson fought so hard for improvements to facilities and teaching standards that one medical dean christened them cthe Terrible Twinsd. For almost four decades John Parr was at the forefront of his chosen profession and the scientific foundation he had has inspired ophthalmology in this part of the world. In 2008 he was given a Distinguished Service Award by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmogists. After retirement, he returned for a time to his beloved Central Otago, leaving behind a splendid garden in Macandrew Bay and moving to Ettrick. There he took over (and modified and improved) a distinctive garden designed by Graham Miller, who had worked at Glenfalloch. Prof Parr had a great love of alpine plants and became known to nurserymen throughout New Zealand as he sought rare plants. He also imported seeds from overseas. Before the move to Ettrick, Prof Parr spent years in the Rotary Club of Dunedin where he was responsible for setting up a committee which focused on city affairs. During his presidential year in 1966-67 the club produced a hardcover book called Dunedin: Friendly City of the South, much of it written by him. When it went on sale 12,000 copies were sold in short order. The Dunedin City Council later took over distribution and used the book for promotional purposes. As a member of the Roxburgh Rotary Club, Prof Parr was again active in community projects. He was especially interested in the Roxburgh District Medical Trust, giving much time to the challenge of maintaining good health services in the area. He helped and encouraged Dunedin Jaycees to set up the Otago Peninsula Trust and would have been its first chairman had he not been so heavily involved in Rotary. When eventually he did chair the trust, he brought his enthusiasm and innovative skills to the task. For several years he served as chairman of the Glenfalloch Garden Committee, introducing new species and developing previously neglected areas. To the end of his life, Prof Parr was a reader, even though a cruel fate reduced the quality of his eyesight. He subscribed to scientific journals and balanced his diet with the Guardian Weekly, a publication which suited his liberal and questing mind. He was married twice. Diana, his first wife, he met at Moorfields where she was a nursing sister in charge of the private patients ward. A devoted partner, she shared his enthusiasm for gardening and walking for more than 40 years until her death. For the last 14 years of his life he was married to Margaret Swann, a former deputy matron at Dunedin Hospital. She was a great companion, who made it possible for him to remain at home even though his health was failing. Prof Parr was an outstanding doctor and scientist, a plants man and botanist of great ability, a citizen who contributed much, always without fuss, and a loyal friend. He is survived by Margaret and his daughter Alison, a former broadcaster and now an oral historian. The obituary was written by Gordon Parry of Dunedin and was originally published in the 14 November 2009 edition of the Otago Daily Times. We thank them for the reprint permission.