At 93 years of age David Etheridge has enjoyed a few trips around the sun but when it comes to shining lights in his life it’s the thought of his wife and soul mate Diana, battling dementia that brings him to tears.
David laments it’s a sad way for their once vibrant lives to end with 91 year old wife Diana now so unwell she can no longer walk, that they felt compelled to do something to help while they’re still alive. After a suggestion from one of their daughters he and Diana have jointly agreed to leave a $500,000 bequest in their wills to Hawke’s Bay Foundation, to support dementia sufferers and end-of-life care in perpetuity.
“I’ve seen the suffering of my wife and the mental dilemma that it causes, that I desperately wanted to find some way of assisting other dementia sufferers. I want our bequest to support the incredible dementia care services out there like Dementia H.B, Mahana and H.B Hospice to fund research, even one day a potential cure for this cruel disease.”
Through her work as Hawke’s Bay Foundation Executive Officer, Alesha Hope stewards local generosity into the areas of donor interest. David and Diana’s gift has left her personally humbled.
“Dementia is a cruel disease that affects the entire family. It’s a tiny silver lining that we can honour the Etheridge’s gift now and forever to help others going through the same journey.”
They both now reside at Napier’s Princess Alexander retirement village, David in a Town House and Diana in the Hospital wing. Being already familiar with the concept of Community Foundations, David says he was impressed by a recent talk he attended.
“The concept is a very good vehicle for people who wish to support communities and their interests after they’ve gone. Understandably people may feel they cannot do it while they’re alive but once they’re deceased it’s a great vehicle to leave money to carry on.
“Many simply don’t have the capital when they’re alive to do such things but you can I think, out of your estate. It’s a more achievable goal but you need to make provision for it while you’re alive, you can’t do it when you’re dead.”
Family has always come first for David and Diana. David took over the family bicycle and nursery business his Father opened after the war, which he later expanded into Napier’s iconic toy store ‘Etheridge’s’ on Napier’s lower Emerson Street. For almost 30 years David immersed himself in the whole gambit of running a store for children and delighted in the joy of selling toys and bikes.
In 1982 he and the family moved to Taupo where they managed and had investment in a large resort. Several round the world adventures with Diana later, they retired in 2004 and in 2019 moved back to Napier when Diana was diagnosed with dementia.
“Diana was raised on a farm in Gisborne which is still in the family. Trained as a Karitane nurse, her interests were many. An accomplished floral artist she was President of the Taupo Club for several years. Helped out at Geotherm Orchids ending up as Export Manager. President of Tauhara Luncheon Club, she hosted Prime Minister Helen Clark who was a guest speaker. 40 years service as a volunteer of Red Cross and arranging flowers at St Johns Cathedral and St Andrews in Taupo were among other interests. Diana had enormous talent and has been of great assistance to me both as a wife and support in business and other interests. She lives for her kids and her family and embodies what it means to be gracious, despite what’s happening to her.”
Between them, David and Diana share five children, 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Their lives and hearts are full despite Diana’s deteriorating diagnosis.
“Every day there are so many organisations wanting financial support, you can’t assist everybody. You’ve got to choose the vehicle that you want. My family have been so affected by dementia through Diana’s journey, so our bequest is a way of giving back,” says David.
“My family aren’t going to miss out too much and I don’t think you owe it to your family to strive to leave them as millionaires, I think if you can help them as much as you can in your lifetime, what’s left at the end is a bonus. We’ve had 66 years together and enjoyed a great life and if, like us, you’ve got an ounce of philanthropy in you, then Hawke’s Bay Foundation is a wonderful vehicle to put it into practice.”
David and Diana’s generous bequest will be directed to the Dementia Relief Fund. All donations made to the Dementia Relief Fund will be prudently invested, distributing the investment returns earned to causes supporting those impacted by dementia, so all gifts will keep growing and giving, now and forever. To make a donation to the Dementia Relief Fund please click here.
