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1970s

Class of 1976

CLASS NOTES

2023

Dr. Bryan Edgar, Federal Way, Wash.: Finished my third two-year term as AGD Speaker of the House in November 2022. (Spring 2023)

2022

Dr. Bryan Edgar, Federal Way, Wash.: I finished a six-year term as Speaker of the House for AGD last November and now chair the Investment Committee and the Regulatory Committee for WSDA. (Fall 2022)

2017

Dr. Wayne K. Tanaka, Riverside, Calif.: I retired this summer after teaching for 18½ years at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Teaching helped me fully realize the dedication and hard work of the UW faculty and staff that resulted in giving me a wonderful profession and career. I plan to spend more time with my grandkids and my hobbies and hope to get my Christmas cards mailed before Dec. 25 this year. (Spring 2017)

2016

Dr. Richard W. Nash, Burlington, Wash.: The Class of 1976 Reunion Committee is in the early stages of planning our 40th reunion. All members should keep Saturday, June 18 open. The time and place is yet to be determined. (Spring 2016)

2015

Bryan Edgar

Dr. Bryan Edgar, Federal Way, Wash.: Was elected speaker of the house of the Academy of General Dentistry at the academy’s annual meeting, which took place June 18-21 in San Francisco. A member of the AGD since 1977, Dr. Edgar has been involved on both the local and national levels for many years. Dr. Edgar served the Washington AGD as membership chair, secretary, treasurer, vice president, president-elect, and president, and is currently the constituent’s legislative chair. Nationally, Dr. Edgar served on the AGD Constitution, Bylaws, and Judicial Affairs Council from 2005 to 2011, and spent six of those years as its chair. As a member of the AGD Investment Committee since 2007, Dr. Edgar helped grow the organization’s investments to approximately $15 million. As a result, a large part of the new AGD Headquarters building in Chicago was paid for with investment earnings. Dr. Edgar served on the AGD Real Estate Transition Task Force from 2007 to 2011, and also previously served on the AGD Board and AGD Budget and Finance Committee from 1996 to 1999. (Fall 2015)

2011

Dr. Scott Williams, Yakima, Wash.: 2010 has been a great year with a few challenges: two knee surgeries, the latter being a total replacement of my left knee. Of greatest note is Janny and I became first-time grandparents. Our son (Scott) and daughter-in-law (Kristi) had Anne Marie on April 23. As with all grandparents, she is, of course, the most beautiful child in the known universe. Looking forward to a great 2011. (Spring 2011)

2010

Dr. Scott Williams: I am actively and enjoyably practicing endodontics in Yakima. Three months ago, Janny and I became first-time grandparents. Our son (Scott) and daughter-in-law (Kristi) had a beautiful baby girl (Ann Marie). She, of course, is the most beautiful child on planet Earth – I sound like a first-time grandparent! Turning 61 was completely painless. I’m truly excited and enthused about Dean Somerman’s upcoming trip to Yakima to discuss the RIDE program with the dental society this coming November. I hope all is well with all of our classmates of 1976 – the “Wilber Invitational 6-some” is still active and flourishing. (Fall 2010)

Dr. Richard W. Nash: My daughter Laura has returned to school, taking pre-dental courses at Western Washington University. She has applied to dental school hoping to enter in the fall of 2010. My wife Ann is attending the University of Montana, taking creative writing classes. She is attending the fall/spring semesters 2009-2010. (Spring 2010)

2009

Dr. Richard W. Nash: Ann and I are happy to announce the marriage of our oldest daughter, Brooke. She and husband Kyle Goldthorp shared their vows on Aug. 16. Our daughter Laura Nash has returned to school at Western Washington University finishing her pre-dental classes and will apply for entering year in 2010. Our son Stuart has taken a civil engineering job with Stantec Corp. in Vancouver, B.C. He has joined a curling league and is enjoying the big-city life. (Spring 2009)

2008

Dr. Bryan C. Edgar: I was appointed to the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation in January 2007 and began to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of the Washington State Dental Association this fall. Needless to say, life has been very busy. We also had a great time at our 30th dental school reunion last year. (Spring 2008)

REUNIONS

40th Reunion
On June 18, 21 members of the Class of 1976 held their 40th reunion at the South Campus Center. Fifteen spouses also attended a wonderful evening of sharing stories from the last 40 years. Many of us are still connected to the UWSOD through teaching in the D-1 lab and on the clinic floor. More than half of our class are enjoying retirement, grandchildren and travels. Some are still in active practice but take time to ski, mountain climb, restore antique clocks and volunteer for dental mission trips. Thank you, Randy Newquist and the UW Dental Alumni Association, for arranging a delicious dinner and perfect venue for our reunion. – Rick Nash (Fall 2016)

Class of 1976 - Reunion
John and Ruth Sechena
Class of 1976 - Reunion
Linda and Dean Anderson, Barb and Scott Cahoon
Class of 1976 - Reunion
Steve Marinkovich, Scott Cahoon, Denny Nordlund, Rick Nash, Dick Tucker

IN MEMORIAM

DR. ROBERT M. GISWOLD, CLASS OF 1976

Dr. Robert Giswold

Dr. Robert Miller “Bob” Giswold died of cancer on June 1, 2015. He was 66.

Dr. Giswold was born on July 1, 1948 in Seattle to William and Marjorie Miller Giswold. He grew up in Kirkland with his sisters Kathy and Cindy. He graduated from Lake Washington High School and attended Western Washington College. Uninspired by school and struggling with his grades, he took a semester off to explore Europe with a backpack and a Eurorail pass. While in Eastern Europe, he faced near starvation, isolation and life-threatening experiences, which helped shape his new outlook. In Turkey he observed destitute elderly men running to make deliveries with 100-pound bundles on their backs. Seeing them sweat and struggle under such heavy loads, earning barely enough to live, he awoke to the realization that he was fortunate to have so many opportunities that these men would never have. He returned to college with renewed drive to succeed in his studies and proactively pursue his vision for his life.

At Western, he started dating Sara Sakura, a fellow biology major. He charmed her with his Flemish pot roast dinner, sense of humor, enthusiasm for life and skiing technique. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1970, fully prepared for a career in biochemistry. However, with few job prospects during the oil crisis, he followed his father and grandfather’s footsteps and attended the School of Dentistry. His future wife attended dental hygiene school at the same time. They married in July 1974.

In his first years as a dentist, Dr. Giswold practiced with his father, Bill. Later, he and his wife had their own dental office in the Capitol Hill neighborhood for 16 years. Bob was very happy he chose dentistry as his profession. It fit his personality perfectly, as it required lifelong learning, was a constant challenge and provided many personal interactions with patients.

The couple later moved to Whidbey Island, Wash., to build their “log cabin” and raise their children, Kelsi and Braden. In 1994, he opened Saratoga Dental in Langley, Wash.

Dr. Giswold instilled his love for life and adventure in his children. Outdoor sports and frequent travel were top of the list for Giswold family vacations, which included ski trips to Winthrop and Whistler, wind-surfing vacations in Hawaii and hiking and cycling treks. They also traveled to Europe, China, Ecuador and Brazil. His days working shrunk and soon his daily life was better than he had ever dreamed. The few days he spent at the office, he was challenged by exciting advanced dental procedures.

Kelsi and Braden also pursued health-care careers. Kelsi is a certified Soma Neuromuscular Integration practitioner. Braden took over the dental practice at Saratoga Dental in 2012 and is now the fourth-generation dentist of the family.

Bob’s most profound experience was being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of prostate cancer in August 2014. He tackled the challenge head-on, determined to learn all he could about cancer and death, and to be master of his thoughts and spirit through the journey. He maintained a positive attitude, not letting his diagnosis prevent him from enjoying his planned cycle tour of Slovenia and Croatia, annual wind-surfing trip to Baja or a guided back-country ski trip in Canada.

He always had a scientific mind, and with this new challenge he expanded his focus from the physical world to include the emotional and spiritual worlds. His studies in Ayurveda, psychotherapy, energy medicine and Eastern philosophy combined with his scientific studies in cosmology, quantum mechanics and biology to paint a harmonious picture of life and death, and prepare him for his next journey. He faced cancer and death as yet another undertaking, an important life experience. By the time death was imminent, he was totally at peace and without fear. (South Whidbey Record)

DR. RICHARD LOWELL, DDS CLASS OF 1976

Dr. Richard Lowell

Dr. Richard Lowell unexpectedly passed away on July 23, 2021. He was 72.

He was born on Nov. 14, 1948 in Spokane, Wash., to Dr. Roy and Florence Lowell. In 1948, the family moved to Colville, Wash., where his father worked as a physician. In 1953, the family purchased a cottage on Christina Lake, where he enjoyed many summers and learned to slalom water ski. He became proficient in golf while working at the Elks Golf Course in Colville, skiing at Chewelah Peak and Red Mountain, B.C., Little League baseball (the Blackhawks), coached by his father, and Boy Scouts, which built his interest in mountaineering and outdoor activities.

Dr. Lowell attended St. George’s and Colville high schools and graduated from Gonzaga Prep. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Gonzaga University, working on highway construction crews near Colville. The years there and at the School of Dentistry also launched his music career. He was lead guitarist for the Shalimars (1965-66) and keyboardist for Feelings (1969-1971), which placed second in a KXLY Battle-of-the-Bands event.

While he was in dental school, he met Cindy (Gudgel) Folsom. They married three years later and together established Lowell Dental in Monroe, Wash., where he spent his 34-year career. They went on to raise three sons. Through a shared love for skiing, he later married Donna Carlson. His family grew with her children and grandchildren.

Throughout the years, he engaged in bicycle tours across Washington and British Columbia, and participated in the STP event to Portland. His mountaineering included numerous ascents of Cascade and Olympic peaks, and particularly technical routes on Mount Rainier’s Liberty Ridge and Mount Stuart. Kayaking adventures included expeditions down Japan’s coast, dodging ice floes in Arctic Canada, and going down the Irish coast. He moved from downhill to Nordic skiing, which he taught for many years at the Stevens Pass ski school.

In more recent years, he returned to music, forming the band F Street Project and playing events throughout the Snohomish/Everett area, again as keyboardist. He became an accomplished jazz pianist, and the sounds of his piano filled his home every morning. He also had a strong interest in family genealogy and was a lover of nature, creating a garden oasis at home, tracking weather patterns via satellite reports, and nurturing a fond relationship with the moon and stars.

He was active in the community, serving as a long-time member of Kiwanis of Monroe, teaching at the hygiene school of Lake Washington Institute of Technology, proudly supporting the local Thumbnail Theatre, and participating in Toastmasters of Snohomish.

Dr. Lowell is survived by his wife, Donna; sons Jensen, Frazier, and Cameron; granddaughter Cadence; step-children Brett, Jody, Mitchell, and Meghann; step-grandchildren; sisters Lynn Tennican and Janet Nelson; and brother Jim. (Legacy.com)