Dr Landsberg dies at 78
Respected Benoni physician Dr Pieter Landsberg died at the age of 78, on August 2.
Landsberg died at his Lakefield home, where he practised as a doctor for many years.
He gave up his practice 18 months ago, after he became ill with normal pressure hydrocephalus, which affects stability and the degeneration of the spinal chord.
His close friends and family celebrated his life at his home on August 9.
His wife, Maureen, who was married to Pieter for 53 years, said her husband was never one for big occasions, so they decided to celebrate his life at home.
Maureen said Pieter was a big family man and had a great sense of humour and a great commitment to his profession.
She added that he had immense dedication to anything that was put to him.
When he had a patient, he would read up on the illness to ensure he understood what he was dealing with and to find a solution for it.
Pieter was born on January 29, 1936, in Linley, in the Free State.
His schooling career began at Primrose Primary School and he later matriculated from Jeppe Boys High.
He then studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he graduated as a general practitioner in 1961.
Pieter’s career began when he went into practice with Dr Dezulovic and Dr Keith Robertson in the Benoni CBD.
When they had died, Pieter started his own practice, at home, in the early 2000s.
Maureen said her husband had a tremendous interest in emergency medicine and diving.
Pieter, who was also a Lions member, helped form the Transvaal Sub-Aqua Club in the 1960s.
His interest in emergency medicine got him involved with the Red Cross, where he started giving weekly lectures.
A former Benoni fire chief, Ted Barber, got to know Pieter as a result of his interest in emergency medicine.
They travelled overseas to learn how to improve viability of the fire stations in the area.
As a result, Pieter and Ted were instrumental in improving medical services to the city of Benoni with the knowledge they gained overseas.
Pieter was a reservist in the navy, where he underwent diving courses.
He used his diving expertise in the powerboating fraternity, to offer assistance at watersport events in Benoni and at the Vaal River.
Pieter was key in bringing the NSRI inland to monitor water safety in the dams around Benoni and the Vaal.
n addition to his medical degree, he did an additional degree through the University of Pretoria, on the cause of divers’ death at great depths.
His thesis on this topic, and many other of his works, were published in medical journals.
Pieter is survived by three children, daughter Daryl, sons Kurt and Adriaan Landsberg and seven grandchildren.
