Obituary Mr D. D. A. Reese

Press, 17 February 1983, Page 6

Obituary Mr D. D. A. Reese

A prominent Christchurch businessman and the chair-

man of Reese Bros, Ltd, Mr J David Daniel Andrew Reese, - has died. He was 61.

z Mr Reese was managing 7 director of Reese Bros for 30 -. years, until his retirement year. He also presided -over the boards of two other -’Christchurch companies, William Cook Holdings, and the Addington Timber Com•pany, and, was a director of ’. the Norwich Union Life In---surance Society, the Christ7 church Gas Company, and the Nurse Maude District . Nursing Association. ; ■ - He was;boiji’in Christ-

church and educated at Medbury Preparatory School and Christ’s College. He joined the family firm of Reese Bros on leaving school. He took over the company at . the age of 31, in 1953, when his father, Daniel Reese, famed for his achievements in New Zealand cricket, died. T Perhaps his greatest achievement was the founding of the only mediumdensity fibreboard plant in the Southern Hemisphere, Canterbury Timber Products, at Rangiora. Planning began in 1972 and the sl2 million project was underway by

1975. The company has since become a public one. Mr Reese, during his time with Reese Bros, built the company up with other diversfications such as plastics, flooring, and forestry. Reese is an old Christchurch family nam?, synonomous with the building industry in the city. Earlier members of the family built such prominent buildings as the old Normal School, the Chief Post Office, and Sunnyside Hospital. Mr Reese is survived by his wife, three sons, and two daughters. "* - ' '"