VEREENIGING. – On Thursday, February 10, Dr Alan Pittendrigh, a resident of Unitaspark since 1993, celebrated his 99th birthday. He jokingly says he prefers to turn the digits upside down and regard it as his 66th!

Dr Pittendrigh was born in the little mining town of Rooiberg, some 60km west of Warmbaths. He grew up in Steynsburg and Cape Town, where his father was a professional policeman, a firearms expert and an excellent horseman. His parents inculcated in the young Alan a deep sense of honesty, integrity and dedication to his work, which in the long run took him from training as an apprentice electrician through the highest peaks in technical education, to unsolicited consultancies for industry. He was also involved in research at the Department of Manpower and the Human Science Research Council.

Dr Pittendrigh worked as an instructor electrician in technical high schools, then known as “Ambagskole”.  Other posts ranged from lecturer, senior lecturer and Head of Engineering, to Deputy Director of his alma mater, the Cape Technikon, and ultimately, Director of the ML Sultan Technikon and Technikon Natal (now combined as the Durban University of Technology).

He retired at the age of 60 after the first buildings – initiated by him on the brand new campus of Technikon Natal – had been completed. He had travelled worldwide to view the most modern educational facilities for inspiration for the new Technikon.

He was a keen sportsman in his younger years and played cricket, hockey, tennis and badminton, and also rugby scrum half, mainly for his home club, Hamiltons. During his career years he had studied and obtained four major qualifications in technology and three university degrees. During his retirement he produced his thesis on Advanced Technical Education in the RSA, earning him a doctoral degree.

He was married to Eddy Croeser until her death in 2008. “We had 58 wonderful years together,” says Dr Pittendrigh, who describes himself as a family man. For a period he was a keen camper and made extensive tours to Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana, which gave ample scope for his photographic hobby.

When he retired the Pittendrighs moved from Durban to Vereeniging as their one son was a dentist here, and their daughter and younger son were at that stage employed in Johannesburg. Soon after this move Dr Pittendrigh became involved in the formation of a branch of the Association of Retired Persons and Pensioners, became a founder member of the Vaal Seniors Club,  the Vaal Elderly Forum, and the SA Confederation of Seniors Organizations. All of this he gave up after Eddy died as he felt he had paid his dues to society for the good life he had enjoyed. He also served as treasurer for the Vaal Old Wheels Club for a few years. Until a deterioration of his eyesight Dr Alan, as he is affectionately known by Ster and Vaalweekblad’s editorial staff, was involved in freelance language editing for these publications. He is still very interested in sport, politics and daily news and despite challenges with his vision, enjoys watching current affairs on TV.

* Ster and Vaalweekblad’s heartfelt congratulations on Dr Alan’s 99th birthday. We are already looking forward to celebrating his centenary in 2023!