In Memoriam
Dr . George W . Brett
The Pennsylvania Dental Association lost another of its great leaders when former president Dr . George W . Brett II passed away at his home on Sunday , March 7 . He was 84 . He served as PDA ’ s president in 1988-89 and made quite an impact on those who followed him .
“ Dr . Brett was an inspiration to me ,” said Dr . Craig Eisenhart , PDA president in 2005-06 . “ He was the first Seventh District trustee I met . He made it a point to come to every local [ society ’ s ] meeting once a year . That ’ s no mean feat with the [ Seventh ] locals spread out as we are .”
“ PDA was involved in a long , costly suit with Blue Cross Blue Shield when he was installed as president ,” Dr . Eisenhart continued . “ Members were being assessed $ 100 each as I remember it . He made it a point to sit behind closed doors with the president of Blue Cross Blue Shield until we had a settlement . I believe we settled for $ 250,000 to the charity of their choice . Dr . Brett was proud of this because of the way the action was dragging us down .
“ Dr . Brett asked me to finish his term as Seventh District PADPAC director when he took office . I was honored to finish his term and I never looked back . He was a gentleman and a scholar .... we ’ ve lost a good man .”
Dr . Brett was born on May 23 , 1925 in Clearfield to Dr . George J . and Charlotte ( Bell ) Brett . Shortly after his birth , his family moved to Lancaster where he was raised . He made many return visits to Clearfield and eventually moved back to establish his dental
practice of 44 years , all of which he truly enjoyed . Dr . Brett graduated from McCaskey High School in Lancaster , Franklin & Marshall University and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Temple University .
For many years , Dr . Brett was on staff at Clearfield Hospital as Chief Dental Surgeon . He was also a member and past president of the Clearfield Dental Society , served on the board and as president of the Seventh District Dental Society , and became president of PDA in 1988 , where he led the association to an ending of a suit that had been pending with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Pennsylvania .
Dr . Brett also served on the board of the American Dental Association , where he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award . Dr . Brett was past president of the Clearfield Area School Board , seeing the need and implementing the beginning of
Kindergarten in the schools . Dr . Brett served on the board and was president of the DuBois Education Foundation of Penn State . He was also a P . I . A . A . wrestling official for many years and inducted into the Clearfield Sports Hall of Fame . He was a devout member of St . Andrew ’ s Episcopal Church , Clearfield where he served as Lay Reader , Chalice Bearer , Senior Warden and Senior Warden Emeritus . He was also very deeply involved with the Diocese of N . W . Pennsylvania as a member of the Diocese V . I . M . Committee , Financial Management Committee and an elected delegate to state and national conventions . He was the recipient of “ the Bishop ’ s Cross ,” a cherished and humbling honor .
Dr . Brett was a member of the Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post # 6 and a lifetime member of the Clearfield Fire & Ambulance Co . # 1 , the Jaffa Shriner ’ s Club , Clearfield where he received “ the Fezz Award ,” the Clearfield Rotary Club and the Clearfield-Curwensville Country Club . Dr . Brett served his country in the United States Navy during World War II . He thoroughly enjoyed golf , Penn State and Steelers football and hunting at Camp Buckeye . He also enjoyed flying and was an Instrument Rated Private Pilot . His expertise of coins and evaluations gave him much pleasure and earned him much respect . Above all , his greatest joy was his love of family and the love of each for one another .
He is survived by his wife , Joan E . ( Lininger ) Brett whom he wed July 14 , 1956 , four children , Dr . George W . Brett III and his wife , Pam , of Beaver , Karen J . Brett of New York City , NY ,
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May / June 2010 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal
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