Celebration of the Life of Duncan Gray

25 March 1961 - 2 December 2008

Obituary: Dr Duncan Gray

Duncan was born in Cape Town and schooled in Pretoria, on completing his BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science) at Onderstepoort in 1987 he purchased and ran a veterinary hospital in Pretoria. After serving at the practice as a Veterinary General Practitioner until 1990, Duncan joined the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort as a Senior Lecturer.

In December 1992, Duncan left his professional career as veterinarian to enter the real estate industry as an Estate Agent for Seeff Properties, operating in Sinoville in Pretoria. Promotions came in quick succession. Duncan was promoted to Branch Manager for the Seeff Menlyn operation, then to Regional Manager Northern Transvaal, and later to Regional Manager Transvaal. During this time, Duncan enrolled through the UNISA School of Business Leadership and completed a Masters Degree in Business Leadership in 1998.

In 1995, an opportunity arose to assume the position of General Manager for JH Isaacs Residential, with special responsibility for Eskel Jawitz Real Estate, one of two trading divisions at that time. In 1999 he made the move to gain multinational corporate experience through the appointment to Pfizer Animal Health as National Sales Manager. Over the next few years various promotions resulted in his appointment as Regional Director and Chief Executive Officer for Pfizer Animal Health Sub-Saharan Africa Region.

In 2005 Duncan felt that he had fulfilled his potential within the pharmaceutical industry, but that his growth prospects in real estate were still incomplete. Given his belief in the long term strength of the market and a desire to conclude a still open chapter, he sought a mechanism to re-enter the property industry and capitalize on his years of multinational experience. Building on this period in corporate management at senior and international levels, the association with Century 21 was an ideal opportunity.Duncan approached Century 21 Real Estate in Parsippany, New Jersey and concluded the Master Franchise Agreement for South Africa on 20 December 2005.

Duncan is survived by his loving wife, Colleen, and sons Mitchell and Stuart.