Obituary: Beaumont 'Monty' Pierard

Canon Monty Pierard

* Canon Monty Pierard, MBE, Anglican churchman and chaplain. Died aged 84.

Beaumont ("Monty") Pierard provided spiritual guidance to the students of Waikato Diocesan School for Girls for more than 25 years, but his sphere of influence went beyond the school boundaries.

Former student Lorna Gribble remembers Canon Pierard with great respect.

"Apart from my parents, the person who has had the most influence on my life was Monty Pierard."

Another old girl, Judy-Ann Healy, remembers his intellect, wit and ability to make Latin and divinity interesting. She and a former teaching colleague, Joan Harris, recollect his love of unusual words, such as "discombobulate".

"He would not make things easy for his students, but would tell them to 'Look it up when you get home'," said Joan Harris.

She admired Canon Pierard for his moral strength, generosity of spirit and passionate faith.

"In fact, 'Keep the faith' was a frequent expression," she said.

Canon Pierard died in Hamilton on August 21. He had been ill after suffering a fall.

He joined Diocesan School in 1959 as chaplain and teacher of Latin and divinity, as well as English and history. He played the organ for chapel services until arthritis made this impossible.

He retired in 1987. Eight years later, the school was having difficulty finding a new chaplain so he stepped into the breach for two years, retiring finally in 1997.

The arts and music communities in Hamilton also benefited from Canon Pierard's involvement. He was chairman of the Waikato Arts Foundation, convener of the Waikato Junior Symphony Orchestra and vice-president of the Civic Choir.

He was the RSA's padre in Hamilton, officiating at Anzac Day services.

Monty Pierard was educated in Palmerston North and Victoria University. He spent four years on active service in the Navy during World War II, and his ship was in Singapore Harbour when the city was liberated. Hearing of his musical ability, the officials arranging a thanksgiving service in Singapore Cathedral asked the young Pierard to play the organ for the service.

The electricity was off, so the organ was powered from the ship.

After the war he entered St John's Theological College in Auckland. His first school appointment was at St Peter's School in Cambridge in 1951. He was appointed a canon at St Peter's Cathedral in Hamilton in 1964.

"Monty brought together a combination of classics, the Navy, the priesthood and teaching," Waikato Anglican Bishop David Moxon said last week.

"He was great with words, a superb public speaker."

Canon Pierard is survived by his wife, Barbara, and nine children.