David Coonan RIP

David died early this morning (6th March) in Australia after a long illness. Five years ago when I left IBM to create Cognitive Edge David took charge. He set up companies, created administrative processes , designed the web site and much else. He continued to work for us until late last year until long term illness arising from his work as a mining engineer forced his retirement. He used to be a prop forward with all the irascible persistence which goes with that position and I think its fair to say that without his dedication Cognitive Edge might have been still born. I remember a dinner at Jordons on Darling Harbour with David and his wife Viv where we talked about rugby and politics in between attempts by David to introduce more organisation and structure into my life. He achieved more than most, but less than he wanted. With typical good grace he accepted what was possible and made up for the deficiencies of others(well me) with his own hard work. He gave me a small travel teapot for my birthday so that I could use leaf tea rather than tea bags, a typical act of kindness and attention to detail. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his wife Viv and this time, and the grateful thanks of Cognitive Edge for his work are part of his memorial.