In Memoriam

Remembering Derrill Hablitzel, ’44 DDS

Derrill Hablitzel, ’44 DDS Port Clinton, OH, March 17, 2020 Vivian W. Thornhill, ’46 C-Certificate Sylvania, OH, November 22, 2019 Laetitia P. Frankowski, ’48 C-Certificate Cincinnati, OH, December 11, 2019 Patricia A. Jordan, ’49 C-Certificate Grafton, OH, December 14, 2019 1950’s Jack W. Gottschalk, ’55 DDS Cincinnati, OH, November 19, 2019 Dominic P. Janini, ’55 DDS Akron, OH, November 8, 2019 Constance J. Gruner, ’56 C-Certificate Gibsonburg, OH, January 2, 2020 William R. Wallace, ’56 DDS, ’62 MS Warren, OH, July 15, 2020 Donald D. Decenso, ’57 DDS Mansfield, OH, December 11, 2019 Derrill Hablitzel, ’44 DDS, started a family tradition when he became the first of three generations of Hablitzels to attend The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1918, Dr. Hablitzel passed away on March 17, 2020 at the age of 101.

Upon graduating from the College of Dentistry in 1944, Dr. Hablitzel served in the Army Dental Corps in World War II. When he returned to Ohio at the conclusion of the war, Dr. Hablitzel and his wife, Clara Lou, purchased a dental practice near Toledo in Port Clinton, Ohio, where he served as a family dentist for 42 years. Two of his sons, Mark ’71 DDS and Michael ’78 DDS, eventually joined the practice.

Dr. Hablitzel was a dedicated buckeye fan who attended 75 seasons of home games after his graduation from Ohio State. He was also a committed volunteer in his community, an active member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, and a

1940’s

lead donor to the College of Dentistry’s Building on Strong Foundations Campaign. Dayna W. Wilcoxson, ’69 C-Certificate Allen R. Ross, ’58 DDS Dayton, OH, November 11, 2019

Daniel L. Rankin, ’59 DDS Columbus, OH, December 9, 2019

1960’s Allen L. Litvak, ’60 DDS Pensacola, FL, January 30, 2020

Judith B. Bourne, ’61 DDS Cleveland, OH, January 8, 2020

Carl C. Scott, ’62 DDS Worthington, OH, December 6, 2019

Richard S. Runkle, ’63 DDS Roanoke, VA, December 4, 2019

Connie Z. Baine, ’66 DDS Mesa, AZ, December 22, 2019

Harvey B. Cohen, ’66 DDS North Canton, OH, February 3, 2020

Wilson, NC, November 9, 2019

Russell R. Mann, ’66 DDS Columbus, OH, November 13, 2019 Charles C. Smith, ’67 DDS Tipp City, OH, January 26, 2020

Thomas J. Thompson, ’69 DDS Batavia, OH, November 12, 2019

James A. Harrold, ’66 DDS Frenchtown, NJ, January 10, 2020

Linda K. Archer, ’70 C-Certificate Columbus, OH, November 2, 2019

David A. Nicely, ’71 DDS Wakeman, OH, January 16, 2020

Christopher A. Ringle, ’76 DDS Delaware, OH, January 5, 2020

1980’s Deborah R. Champion, ’86 DDS Massillon, OH, December 16, 2019

Chris H. Boerger, ’87 DDS Monroe, OH, February 1, 2020

1990’s Mark L. Suelflohn, ’90 DDS San Diego, CA, December 11, 2019

Remembering William R. Wallace, ’56 DDS, ’62 MS

The College of Dentistry mourns the loss of former Dean William R. Wallace, ‘56 DDS, ‘62 MS who passed away on July 15, 2020, at the age of 87. Dr. Wallace was born in Warren, Ohio, near Youngstown. After receiving his bachelor’s and DDS degrees at The Ohio State University, he practiced general dentistry as an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service in San Francisco. While in San Francisco, Dr. Wallace served U.S. military personnel, and he had the unique experience of providing dental care to inmates at the Alcatraz Federal Prison.

In 1959, Dr. Wallace returned to Ohio with his wife, Jane, and his family. He earned his MS in the College of Dentistry’s Oral Surgery program before joining what was then known as the Department of Oral Surgery as a faculty member. After more than nine years of dedicated service, Dr. Wallace was named chair of the department in 1971.

During his tenure, Dr. Wallace also served as the assistant dean for graduate studies and he provided dental services to students in Ohio State’s athletics program. He served as the college’s acting dean in 1974 and again in 1980 before being appointed as dean in 1981.

During his 10 years as dean, Dr. Wallace led a number of substantial renovations to Postle Hall that included establishing a central sterilization and instrument storage room; launching the Dental Faculty Practice to provide patient care and support faculty recruitment and retention; and ushering in a new emphasis on faculty members’ research and related publications. Dr. Wallace retired from the College of Dentistry in 1991.

“Dr. Wallace truly valued the importance of research as a tool to move the profession and specialty forward,” said Peter Larsen, DDS, Chair of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology. “As the dean, he recruited Dr. Larry Peterson as Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. During Dr. Peterson’s tenure, the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency became a nationally and internationally respected program. The Dental Anesthesiology program was also started at that time. I will always personally remain grateful to Dr. Wallace for taking a chance on a young and inexperienced kid fresh out of residency when he and Larry Peterson hired me. I owe my career to them both.”

Henry Fields, DDS, MS, MSD, professor in the Division of Orthodontics, succeeded Dr. Wallace as dean. “Bill Wallace was a clinician in a clinical college. He was proud of that and of his peers,” Dr. Fields said. “Many had been recognized for their clinical skills and thinking. He saw how a change to a clinical and research-based ideology could benefit dentistry and the college. That change made a dramatic difference in how the college was regarded by the university and the National Institutes of Health. He was a transformational dean. On a personal note, he and Jane were welcoming to me, and we were friends. He provided guidance in organized dentistry that was excellent counsel for me and the college. I will miss him.”

Reflecting on Dr. Wallace’s contribution of elevating research while maintaining the college’s national reputation for excellence in clinical education, Joel Weaver, ’72 DDS, ’76 PhD, professor emeritus in the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dental Anesthesiology, said, “Change in any endeavor is never easy, and shifting direction after decades of momentum in our college was a risk that Dr. Wallace never hesitated to make. Our college flourished under his leadership and he set the stage for every dean since. It has been wonderful to have him as a mentor, a colleague and close personal friend, and I will miss him dearly.”

Our college flourished under Dr. Wallace’s “ leadership and set the stage for every dean since. It has been wonderful to have had him as a mentor, a colleague and close personal friend, and I will miss him dearly. ” - Joel Weaver, ’72 DDS, ’76 PhD