Garry TEE Obituary

TEE, Garry John (Garry). Born March 28, 1932. Passed away on February 18, 2024 at Jervois residential care aged 91. Son of the late George and Mabel Tee of Tairua and brother of the late Maureen. Loved and respected uncle and cousin of the Tee and Thom families. Garry attended Seddon Memorial Technical College, topping the scholarship list for New Zealand in 1948. he was awarded an MSc with First Class Honours from Auckland University College in 1954 and became a foundation member of the Department of Mathematics University of Lancaster in 1964. He was a visitor at the Computer Science department of Stanford University in 1965. Garry returned to New Zealand as a senior lecturer in mathematics at the University of Auckland in 1968 where he remained until his retirement. He was a founding member of the Computer Science department. A talented mathematician, Garry was considered to be one of the pioneers of computer science in New Zealand, and a fine historian of both subjects. he published works in the area of numerical analysis and the history of science, particularly the history of computers, having worked as a mathematician at the English Electric Company in 1958 developing the DEUCE computer based on Alan Turing's design for the ACE computer initially formulated at Bletchley Park. Garry's studies on Charles Babbage and early pioneering women in both mathematics and computing have contributed much to New Zealand and International Scholarship. Garry published a significant body of work over his lifetime and in 2003 was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Auckland University of Technology A keen diver and underwater photographer ,Garry was a member of the Auckland University Underwater Club from 1969 and delighted in sharing with his family slideshows of his underwater expeditions. Garry dedicated his whole life to research and scholarship, contributing much to New Zealand's history of mathematics and computer science. The University of Auckland was his home and his colleagues there, his family. he was a special man who will be sadly missed. His family would like to thank the nurses at Jervois Residential for their devoted care. Messages can be sent to [email protected]