<< Back to Lion homepage
Obituaries
David Robert Holden Kennedy (OW1946)
9/04/1929 – 19/01/2021
David, a highly respected and pioneering surgeon, former President of the Melbourne Club, who served in the naval reserve as a surgeon-lieutenant from 1954-1962, died at home at the age of 91, after a lifetime of service and sharing his knowledge and skills with others. Countless surgeons are undoubtedly greater for having trained under him.
David began at Wesley in 1938 in The Hutch, in Miss Krome’s First A, with classmates like Gordon Hattam (OW1947)(dec.) and Bill Crothers (OW1947)(dec). David was the son of Dr John Kennedy (OW1901)(dec.) and brother of John (OW1958) and attended Wesley during WWII which meant he was part of the Wesley at Scotch brigade, when St Kilda Road was taken over by military operations in Melbourne.
By 1943 he was in Corrigan House in The Twenty under WD Kennedy, soon showing a talent for gymnastics, winning an Under 14 Special Prize, and in 1944 rowing third seat in the Third Junior Crew on the Barwon and gaining his intermediate certificate. Clearly a talented rower, David then rowed in the First Crews of 1945, when he received Colours for Rowing, and in 1946.
Above: Portrait by Brian Dunlop commissioned by David's colleagues at The Alfred Hospital, presented upon retirement
He served on both the rowing sub-committee and Library staff in his final year. He was in Mr Martindale’s legendary Class of 1946, in the company of Blainey, Fone, Hibbins G., Hulme, McGlashan and Oldfield to name a few.
Following in his father’s footsteps, David went on to the University of Melbourne to study medicine, first at the Mildura campus then Trinity College. His residency was at The Alfred before moving to London to train further, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and specialising in Urology, holding senior positions at teaching hospitals. As the field of transurethral surgery developed, David was drawn to progressive hospitals in California.
In 1964 David became the first specialist urologist at The Alfred and later led the department, also heading units at the Royal Women’s and Footscray. He was Dean of The Alfred’s Clinical School from 1984 – 1987 and served on both the Victorian and National Training and Education boards. He was a pioneer in many areas. His dedication and care of patients was unsurpassed, he was born to teach and had great skill in emergency surgery. When the West Gate Bridge collapsed, David was in theatre at Footscray and operated and took care of the injured.
David was married to his wife Trudy Lowith while in the US. They had both worked in the UK together and Trudy completed her training as a psychiatrist at UCLA. They had many shared interests, including a love of cars and motor racing and were a devoted couple until her death in 2011. David also enjoyed sailing, fly fishing, golf and surfing. Along with his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, he was also a Fellow here in Australia, member of the AMA, the British Association of Urological Surgery and the Urological Society of Australia.
David is survived by his three daughters, Sarah, Helen and Vanessa, and eight grandchildren.
Contributed by Ian Thomas (OW1982)