Let te r to the Ed itor
Dr. Radack received the following letter in response to our
“Multigenerational Dental Families” feature that appeared in
the March/April 2018 issue. The feature has been revised
to include some new names and is reprinted on pages 25-28
of this issue.
Dear Steve:
It was interesting to read in the latest issue of the Journal the list
of Pennsylvania dentists who are or were members of families
with multigenerational practitioners of our profession. I don’t
know what criteria were used to determine eligibility for
inclusion, but I am fairly certain that no person in the history of
American dentistry has more relatives by blood or marriage in
the dental profession than my father. He started a veritable
dynasty and I beg your pardon for my imposing upon you this
listing of them.
It started with Dr. Joseph T. O’Leary (Penn ‘21) and his cousin,
Dr. George P. Coleman (Penn ’13). Dr. Joe, as he was always
known, was Ninth District Trustee for many years and a member
of the Dental Examining Board. George was a PDA president.
One of Dr. Joe’s sisters was Dr. Bertha P. O’Leary (Pitt ’28). She
was the first female dentist in NW Pennsylvania. She married
Dr. William D. Hustead (Pitt ’28) and another sister married
Dr. Ralph C. Scragg (Pitt ’28). Dr. Joe’s brother was Dr. Marcellus
R. O’Leary (Pitt ’31). Dr. J. Timothy O’Leary (Penn ‘48) and
Dr. John D. O’Leary (Pitt ’50) are sons of Dr. Joe. His daughters
married respectively Dr. Richard A. Gette (Penn ’55) and
Dr. George P. Moylan (Penn ’56.)
His grandchildren include Drs. Richard O’L. Gette, Elizabeth A.
Gette and G. Peter Moylan. A granddaughter married
Dr. Nicholas J. Hosu. Dr. M. R. O’Leary’s sons include Dr. Robert J.
O’Leary and Dr. Joseph M. O’Leary. Dr. Bob’s son is Dr. Thomas J.
O’Leary. Dr. Joseph M.’s son is Dr. Chad W. O’Leary. Over several
generations there have also been seven dental hygienists in the
family. Lastly, a daughter of Dr. Richard O’L. Gette, who is,
therefore, a great—granddaughter of Dr. Joe will enter Temple
University School of Dentistry this fall.
Also not included in the multigenerational listing is another
Girard based family that of the Baxters, which began with
Dr. Albert A. Baxter (Maryland ’06). The legacy continued with
Dr. R. Stanley Baxter (Pitt ’32) and his sons Dr. James and
Dr. Robert. One of Dr. Jim’s daughters married Dr. Michael
Parenti. Every one of the dentists listed here was a member of
the PDA and practiced at one time or another in Pennsylvania.
To correct this would almost require an entire issue of the PDA
Journal and I most certainly do not expect that; but l do want
to set the record straight, perhaps as a Letter to the Editor.
Very cordially yours,
Tim
J. Timothy O’Leary, D.D.S.
Editor’s Note: Thank you, Dr. O’Leary for providing this great
information on the history of these dental families. Your letter has
provided a much fuller picture of the rich history in our state.
TM
“Dentists helping Dentists”
We match dental practices with
highly qualified dentists.
Ph: 610-216-2899
Fax: 412-235-7200
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