David Silich
David Silich attended Whangārei Boys' High School from 1958 to 1962, culminating in his appointment as Dux of the School in 1962. During his time at WBHS he built a strong academic foundation, spending many hours in the school library, while also enjoying basketball.
After leaving WBHS, David studied at the University of Auckland before heading overseas. He spent a year in Australia and then moved to London, where he joined the prestigious banking firm Lazard. There he played a part in the computerisation of the London Stock Exchange, placing him at the forefront of a rapidly changing financial world.
David met his wife, Corina, through her brother, and in 1977 the couple made their home in Switzerland.
Despite his international success, David remained deeply connected to Whangārei and to WBHS. He returned regularly to visit his mother in Fourth Avenue and always made time to call in at the school, and it was well known among his friends and family that he held great affection for the place. His visits home often coincided with Old Boys’ Committee meetings, traditionally followed by dinner at Art Deco – a reflection of both his loyalty and his enjoyment of reconnecting with fellow Old Boys.
David’s contribution to WBHS was both significant and lasting. He was instrumental in establishing the WBHS Endowment Fund, which now exceeds half a million dollars and continues to support the school into the future. Over many years he provided substantial financial support – amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars – for key facilities, including a kiln for the Art Centre and lifting equipment for the Engineering Centre, among many other contributions. Perhaps his most significant legacy is the establishment of the Ormond Weaver Golf Academy, a major initiative that continues to benefit students today.
During his lifetime, David was offered a fellowship in recognition of his outstanding business achievements and his philanthropic support of the arts and of his old school. Characteristically humble, he declined the honour. It is therefore especially fitting that his remarkable life and enduring legacy should now be recognised.
In recognition of his business success and his lasting generosity to his old school, David Silich was posthumously inducted into the Fideliter Fellowship in 2026.
