Tributes have been flowing for long-time Wānaka GP Dr Dennis Pezaro, who died on Sunday (November 16), aged 83.

Described by his family as a “devoted country GP for 60 years”, Dennis has been remembered by locals as a welcoming doctor who offered wisdom along with health care.

In a speech he gave in 2014, Dennis said he believed “that everyone I met had something in their life, of great worth, to be respected, treasured, enjoyed, and that the healthcare interaction was to facilitate this core of their being, whether with laughter or tears, medicines or hugs, tea or whisky”. 

Dennis moved to Wānaka, with his wife Olwyn, in 1979 as the town’s only GP, working initially in cooperation with the practice and hospital in Cromwell.

His practice grew quickly.

“He worked six days a week and on the seventh day he worked as well,” a long term friend of the Pezaros told the Wānaka App.

Dennis was “on every committee”, they said.

He became very involved in Wānaka life and community projects, including the development of Treble Cone and Cardrona skifields.

Wānaka Medical Centre supplied all the early medical services on the skifields and the GPs were granted early recognition as partial radiologists to take x-rays.

Dennis has said they “developed significant experience and some expertise in acute trauma”. 

“On the worst weekend before wrist guards were invented we set 20 broken wrists and my own experience is of reducing about 80 dislocated shoulders and about eight dislocated hips.”

Dennis joined the executive team of the NZ Medical Association in 1992 and was chair from 1995-6.

He is survived by Olwyn, and his family Sarah and Andrew, Avi, and Kit; Carmel; Daniel and Carolyn, Zac and Aria.

A memorial service will take place in the New Year.

Note: Some information has been provided by Upper Clutha resident historian Ken Allan from notes of a speech Dennis gave in 2014.

PHOTO: Supplied