CLASS NOTES
2022
Dr. Al Leonard, Seattle: The Class of 1962 had our 60-year reunion June 9 on Zoom with 12 classmates participating. It was really nice to catch up with everyone and find out what they are currently up to. Being spread out, Zoom made it so much easier for many to attend. A few spouses joined the reunion too. (Fall 2022)
2010
Dr. Paul J. Heins, Redmond, Wash.: Do you all remember Ruth Herr? We all knew her as “Ruthie” and we were her “boys.” The Perio Grad Clinic’s atmosphere was made much more pleasant by Ruthie’s legendary smile and cheerfulness, her readiness to help, and her always-present words of encouragement. She will always have a special place in the hearts of those of us who were lucky to have known her. (Spring 2010)
Dr. Wallace C. Volz Jr., Belfair, Wash.: When I graduated from the UW dental school, a wise old practitioner advised me to “get connected” to my community and “stay connected.” Here is what has happened to me in the past two years. I sold my practice of 44 years in 2007 and had the opportunity to continue to treat patients as long as I wanted to. Then the recession came and the numbers dropped, and I elected to move on to other stuff. At that time I was active in a citizens committee in Belfair, where Pam and I live. This committee was formed because the one health clinic in Belfair was closing its door. The existing clinic had been administered by Shelton General Hospital (27 miles away). Our committee explored ideas on how to bring a clinic to Belfair. Within 18 months and after a referendum, we formed our own Public Hospital District. Five District Commissioners were elected by vote and a contract was negotiated with Harrison Medical Center of Bremerton to provide health care to our district. Harrison built a 17,000-square-foot facility in downtown Belfair. It opened up on April 17, 2008, providing urgent care 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The Commissioners hired me to be the administrator of the District. As Superintendent, I work with the Commissioners to receive real and personal tax revenue through the levy process to pay Harrison to provide health care for the people in our District. This process has really been a challenge to follow all the rules and regulations imposed on Public Hospital Districts. My learning curve is vertical and very exciting. In Dentistry, I have been involved in providing dental care to the indigent, unemployed and homeless. Through a new volunteer group named AADAP (Acute Adult Dental Access Program) we join together to provide dental care for the needy. The groups who are part of this operation and vital to its success are: Kitsap County Oral Health Coalition, Kitsap Public Health, South Kitsap Dental Net, Kitsap Veterans Association, Kitsap County Resources Medical Teams International, and Kitsap County Dental Society. We provide nominal-fee ($25 co-pay) dental clinics every six weeks. The clinics are held in six large private dental clinics in Poulsbo, Silverdale, Central Kitsap, Bremerton and Port Orchard. These offices are donated to us free of any charge for their use and all supplies used. Four or five dentists, two or three dental hygienists and numerous dental assistants volunteer their talents and time on a Saturday. We treat 15 to 20 patients and provide $13,000 to $15,000 of dental care on these Saturdays. The veteran patients come from our participation in Veterans Stand Down projects held twice a year. This activity gives veterans with hard times a chance to come and receive clothing, personal hygiene products, food, general health screenings, eye exams, haircuts, free dental exams, X-rays and treatment planning. Here’s where we bring the Medical Teams International van with our volunteers. We screen about 20 to 50 vets on that day, giving us seed patients for the clinics. I feel very positive with both these projects because I can see the benefits immediately. So is this “retirement with a flair” or “staying connected”? (Spring 2010)
REUNIONS
On Oct. 1, 2017, our Class of 1962 met at Salishan Golf and Spa Lodge on the Oregon coast for our 55th-anniversary reunion. We went there for our first reunion 45 years ago. It has changed a lot, but was still familiar. We arrived on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1, and left Wednesday morning. We had no planned activities, except a planned dinner Tuesday night at the Side Door Café. We had 11 classmates plus spouses, dates, and singles, plus two kids and their spouses, for a total of 24 for dinner. We all had breakfast at the same place, so we hung out there a lot and did individual things during the day. We had lots of time for renewing old friendships and togetherness. A good time was had by all. There is already talk of and a chairman for the 60th-anniversary reunion. – Al Leonard
IN MEMORIAM
DR. CHARLES A. BORGMAN, CLASS OF 1962
Dr. Charles A. Borgman died on Sept. 16, 2012 in Kirkland, Wash. He was 83.
Dr. Borgman was born on April 11, 1929, in Jackson Hole, Wyo. After graduating from the UW School of Dentistry, he completed his training in Boston in 1963. He practiced dentistry for 45 years in Juanita, Wash.
Dr. Borgman loved sailing, fishing, skiing, building and being surrounded by his family, including his wife, Sandy; children, Barbara, Erica, Marit, Inger and Greta; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
DR. FRED CHRISTEN, CLASS OF 1962
Dr. Fred Christen passed away peacefully on July 2, 2021 in Blaine, Wash., surrounded by family. He was 87.
He was born on Dec. 26, 1933 in Chehalis, Wash., and grew up there. He married Helen Lyle, with whom he had five children, and served four years in the Navy and six years in the Navy Reserves. He loved dentistry and practiced for many years in Kent, Wash., before moving to Ellensburg, Wash., to farm. His second marriage, to Molly Hayes, brought four stepchildren into his life. These were all treasured relationships to him.
After many years of farming, he bought Cook Creek Court in Kittitas, Wash., where he enjoyed overseeing improvements and lively conversations with residents. He loved prime rib, Husky and Seahawks football, poker, cribbage, real estate, and hard work. He was fiercely independent and had a true entrepreneurial spirit.
He is survived by his children, Mike, Betty Thompson, Pat, Morgan, and Bob; stepdaughters Marsha Hayes Weyand, Pat Hayes Rominger, Pam Hayes Bailes, and Robin Hayes Newcomb; 22 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sister June Rado; and brother John.
Donations in his memory may be made to the School of Dentistry. (Kent Reporter)
DR. RALPH B. CULVER, CLASS OF 1962, PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY CLASS OF 1968
Dr. Ralph Buhl Culver died on March 21, 2015, from complications of a stroke. He was 78.
Born in Bremerton, Wash., he completed an internship at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco after receiving his DDS degree and served two additional years in the Army in France. After earning his certification in pediatric dentistry from the UW, he practiced for two years at Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem and had a private pediatric dental practice in Renton, Wash., until 2008, and lived part-time in Palm Springs, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Paula, and is survived by his son, Jonathan; brother, Dr. Norman Culver; partner, Alan Vernon; and two nieces. (Forest Lawn)
DR. HERBERT H. HOOPER, DDS CLASS OF 1962
Dr. Herbert Hayes “Herb” Hooper passed away on April 27, 2022 in Sacramento, Calif. He was 94.
He was born on April 16, 1928 in Akron, Ohio, and raised in Ohio, North Carolina, and Washington. His dad died when he was 7. During the Great Depression, he and his mother lived without indoor plumbing, electricity, and running water. He learned to trap, deliver newspapers, and work in a machine shop before joining the Navy at the end of WWII. He helped build a tunnel in Northern California’s Feather River Canyon, harvested wheat in the Midwest, worked at the Hanford Site in Washington, and logged redwoods outside Eureka, Calif., where he met his future wife, Darlene.
Unemployed when they married, he seized an opportunity to own a Union 76 gas station, which they built up to be the No. 1 station west of St. Louis.
When they decided he’d go to dental school, they sold their four gas stations and, with two children and another on the way, moved to Seattle. After graduation, he and the family moved to Sacramento, where he practiced dentistry for 40 years before retiring in 2002.
Dr. Hooper served as president of the Sacramento District Dental Society and its chair of continuing education. He was also chair of The Dental Company of California Dental Association. An entrepreneur, he owned several successful ventures.
He loved to hunt and was very happy fishing Lake Tahoe from his Boston Whaler, especially with his children and grandkids on board. He was proficient in his King Air propjet, along with many other planes over the years, and a 36-year member of the Sheriff’s Air Squadron. He loved cars all his life but was most proud of the Gullwing Mercedes he bought after dental school.
Dr. Hooper is survived by his children Michael (Holly), Krista, Karen (Derrick) Luksch, and Bill (Bettina); grandchildren Ryan (Michelle) Hooper, Kelsi (Drew) Perttula, Karli (Matt) Luksch, Chris (Lindsey) Luksch, Gillian (Michael) Simmons, Melinda (Corey) Luksch-Pacheco, Hailey (Brent) Heller, Erika (Patrick) Nelle, Candice (Kevin) Benshoof, Lydia (Josh) Shivers, Billy Hooper, Madison Hooper, Annie (Jake) Anderson, and Parker Luksch; 22 great-grandchildren; sister Rebecca Bossart; and sister-in-law Georgia Clements.
He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Darlene; brother William; and sister Latha. (Legacy.com)
DR. KENNETH W. KUMPF, CLASS OF 1962
Dr. Kenneth William Kumpf passed away on Nov. 27, 2020 in a Napa, Calif., hospital with his son Loren by his side, after years of battling prostate cancer. He was 84.
He was born on July 6, 1936 in Kane, Penn., to Katherine and Fred Kumpf. After living in various locations, his family moved to Worland, Wy., where he attended Washakie County High School and met his future wife, Shirley Martenson. He played guard on his high school basketball team, which despite its small size was runner-up in the Wyoming state Class AA boys’ championship in 1953. He graduated the following year and did his predental education at the University of Wyoming.
He served as an Army dentist at Ford Ord in Monterey, Calif. In 1965, he and his wife, Shirley, settled in Napa, where he opened and ran a successful dental practice for 25 years.
After his son Aaron died in 1985 under suspicious circumstances while a patient at Letterman Army Medical Center at the Presidio in San Francisco, Dr. Kumpf sold his dental practice, his marriage ended, and he moved to San Francisco. He co-owned a Chinese restaurant for a few years and continuously pursued the cause of his son’s death. He later returned to Napa.
In earlier days, he enjoyed shooting pool, fishing, golfing, playing bridge, dancing, running, and photography. Throughout his life he also enjoyed watching sporting events and following the stock market.
Dr. Kumpf was respected for his generosity in providing dental care for those with limited funds. He was also known for his free spirit and his empathy for those most marginalized by society. He felt particularly compassionate toward the transgender individuals he befriended and assisted in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, where he lived.
He is survived by his children Loren and Amy; siblings Fred and Laura; and ex-wife Shirley. He was preceded in death by his parents. (Legacy.com)
DR. JOHN T. MCGWIRE, CLASS OF 1962
Dr. John Thomas McGwire died Dec. 29, 2020 at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif., of pneumonia caused by leukemia. He was 83.
Dr. McGwire was born on Sept. 7, 1937 in Bronxville, N.Y. He was a man of faith who believed in service to others. He practiced dentistry for 38 years in Pomona, Calif. After he retired, he continued to work to ensure proper dental care for the less fortunate. He served as president of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce and the Pomona Rotary Club, and on the board of Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona for many years.
Dr. McGwire cherished his time with his children and shared his love of sports with them. He coached them in Little League and AYSO for 10 years. He also enjoyed cycling and playing golf.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Virginia (“Ginger”); sons Michael, Mark, Robert, Daniel, and Jay; 18 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
DR. PETER P. RILEY, DDS CLASS OF 1962
Dr. Peter Patrick “Pete” Riley passed away on July 15, 2022, surrounded by family. He was 82.
He was born in May 1937 in Walla Walla, Wash., to Terrance and Mary Riley. He grew up in Spokane, Wash., and attended school at Saint Augustine. He graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory High School in 1955 and then attended Gonzaga University – forever a Bulldog!
Dr. Riley met his future wife, Colleen Marie Murphy, at Holy Names in Spokane, and it was love at first sight. They married on Dec. 28, 1960, and moved to Seattle. He became the 13th dentist in Bellevue, Wash., where he practiced for 40 years.
Dr. Riley was a mainstay in his community. He was active in the St. Louise Parish, Bishop Blanchet High School, and the Lions Club. He celebrated all the holidays and adorned his home and office with elaborate decorations. Each Halloween children would come in carloads from around the area to trick-or-treat at “The Snoopy House.” A proud Irishman, he spent his St. Patrick’s Days decked out in festive attire with his family. He also donned his own Santa suit to visit local nursing homes and friends. He cherished the smiles and joy he brought to all his grandchildren and their children as Santa on Christmas Eve.
The Rileys loved their travels and enjoyed many trips to Hawaii and Ireland. They also had 23 wonderful memory-making years at their cabin on south Puget Sound.
One of Dr. Riley’s greatest pleasures was watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as they wrestled, played baseball, soccer, or volleyball, and cheered.
Dr. Riley is survived by his wife of 62 years, Colleen; daughter Sheila (Bryan) McNaghten and grandsons Patrick (Melony), Daniel (Alison), Sam (Katie), and Adam (Jaina), and 13 great-grandchildren; daughter Julie (Matthew) DiJulio and granddaughters Lexi and Lindsey; sons Kevin and Dennis and granddaughter Megan; and sister Dorothy Riley. (Seattle Times)