The Kingswood community remembers with deep affection Dr Gordon Mitchell Cragg (OK 1952), who passed away peacefully on 25 August 2025, shortly before his 89th birthday.
Gordon, who grew up in the rural towns of Kroonstad and Alice, came to Kingswood as a boarder at the age of 11 years old. The Cragg family’s ties to Kingswood are long and meaningful. Gordon’s father, Rev. E. Lynn Cragg (a Methodist minister), served on the Council in the 1950s. His brother, Rev. Dr Donald Cragg (OK 1951), later did the same. Donald’s children – Brian (OK 1984), Geoffrey (OK 1979), and Carol (OK 1976) – all followed in their father’s and uncle’s footsteps at Kingswood. Carol, in particular, was part of the very first class of girls admitted when the school became co-ed, a milestone in its history.
Gordon’s life was one of curiosity, kindness, and impact on a global scale. After leaving Kingswood in 1952, he studied chemistry at Rhodes University, graduating with a first-class BSc Honours in 1956. Following in his brother’s footsteps he went on to Oxford, where he earned his doctorate in organic chemistry 1963, and later to UCLA for postdoctoral research in the study of novel chemicals isolated from plants. In his words, “this led to a most rewarding career exploring the discovery and development of novel drugs from natural sources (so called natural products chemistry)”. It was also at UCLA that he met his future wife, Jacqueline Tuers. They married soon after and shared 58 years together.
A gifted scientist, Gordon devoted his career to the study of natural products in medicine. As Chief of the Natural Products Branch at the United States National Cancer Institute, his research advanced global efforts against cancer and HIV/AIDS, with his leadership proving instrumental in the development of the anticancer drug Taxol. For this and other contributions, he received multiple NIH Merit Awards.
Yet Gordon’s legacy extends far beyond the laboratory. Described by colleagues as a “research diplomat,” he helped shape international frameworks for the protection and chemical investigation of biodiversity, building partnerships between leading institutions and developing countries. For him, the world’s natural resources were not just a source of potential medicines but a vital repository of cultural and scientific knowledge to be safeguarded for future generations. His advocacy for equitable collaboration and his respect for local expertise left a lasting imprint on the way science engages with both people and the planet.
His words perhaps say it best: “One never ceases to learn, and one can learn by listening to the experiences of all people, irrespective of their qualifications or positions.”
Even at the height of his career, Gordon was known for his humility and warmth. His colleagues remember him as a brilliant diplomat and a kind collaborator, “bringing both passion and compassion to his efforts.”
“He will be missed as much for his personal grace and kindness to others as for his scientific achievements. Gordon, the son of a minister, was unfailingly kind to his colleagues and to the numerous researchers around the world with whom he collaborated to help achieve their goals. Gordon negotiated numerous international agreements and was an able diplomat who brought both passion and compassion to his efforts for NCI. His was a life well lived.” – A tribute from the National Cancer Institute, where he was a valued member of the Natural Products Group searching for new cancer drugs from nature. He retired in 2005
For Gordon, nature was both vocation and joy: “my major interest lies in the wonders of Nature, and I’ve been most fortunate to incorporate this passion for all things natural in my career and in travel to many fascinating countries both for pleasure and for business. God has blessed us with a magnificent planet and let’s hope and pray that it will be preserved for future generations.”
His travels took him across the world, but his love of plants and the natural world was rooted in the Eastern Cape and nurtured by inspiring Kingswood teachers. He often reflected that the best advice he ever received came from science teacher Charles Dacam, who encouraged him to pursue chemistry rather than commerce: “I consider this the best advice I’ve ever received, and I feel forever indebted to him.”
“In my final year at Kingswood (1952) I was considering what to do after Matric and I was leaning towards doing a BCom at Rhodes University. However, my excellent science teacher, the late Charles Dacam, strongly recommended that I do a BSc… This rewarding career would not have occurred had it not been for this recommendation. I consider this the best advice I’ve ever received, and I feel forever indebted to Charles Dacam for his expert introduction to the study of science at Kingswood, and for his invaluable advice and guidance in directing me to further scientific studies at university.” – Gordon Cragg
Beyond the laboratory, Gordon loved sport and music. He discovered cross-country running at Kingswood under coach Howard Kirkby, later running for Rhodes and even qualifying to represent combined South African universities. He was also fond of tennis and cricket, and in later years continued to keep active – all pursuits he saw as ways of staying connected to life’s rhythm.
Though his career took him far from the Eastern Cape, Gordon never forgot his roots. He supported the school faithfully, particularly through the Legends Fund, ensuring opportunities for future generations of Kingswoodians.
To our current Kingswoodians, his core beliefs are something to hold dear. Gordon believed in the “absolute need for equitable and respectful collaboration in achieving progress in all endeavours – whether in science, politics, religion and church, or society in general.”
Dr Gordon Cragg leaves behind not only an extraordinary scientific legacy, but also the enduring example of a life lived with humility and purpose. He will be dearly missed and warmly remembered by the Kingswood family and by all whose lives he touched. We hold his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers at this time.