CLASS NOTES
2016
Dr. Dexter Barnes, Seattle: He completed the year as President of the USA Section of the International College of Dentists and as President of the Washington Oral Health Foundation. He continues to chair the Ernest Jones Lectureship, and practices four days a week and is having fun. What a great profession dentistry is and what a great dental school we graduated from! (Spring 2016)
2010
Dr. Dexter Barnes, Seattle: I’m still practicing in downtown Seattle with no plans to retire, having just signed a new five-year lease. I finished my years on the WSDA Board and I’m now on the Washington Oral Health Foundation Board. I still chair the Dean Jones Lecture and serve on the Dental Alumni board. Mary Ann and I live in the Magnolia area and have four grown children – two married – and eight grandchildren. Life is good and dentistry has been such a wonderful way to not only make a living but also to give one a purpose and meaning. We are truly blessed. (Fall 2010)
Dr. Ernie Barrett, Seattle: I am still practicing in the U District with no plans to retire anytime soon. I recently remarried also.
(Fall 2010)
Dr. Jerry Bates, Woodinville, Wash.: Actively practicing in Woodinville, learning and applying the latest technology in my office. My wife, Carol, has been a longtime leader with the Dental Auxiliaries Group. (Fall 2010)
Dr. Dale Bloomquist, Seattle: Current chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the UW. Maintains a private practice and restores classic race cars (Italian). (Fall 2010)
Dr. Tom Conlon, Spokane, Wash.: Still actively practicing in my periodontal office in Spokane and completed my term as a member of the ADA Annual Meeting Committee. (Fall 2010)
Dr. Roy Gunsolus, Seattle: Still practicing Ortho in North Seattle and restoring a classic Porsche. (Fall 2010)
Dr. George Hussey, Marysville, Wash.: Still practicing in Marysville and instructing one day a week at the School of Dentistry. I have no plans to retire anytime soon. (Fall 2010)
Dr. Louis Isquith, Seattle: Just had my last child finish college and begin working. I have practiced general dentistry in the Medical Dental Building since graduation and am still actively practicing and working as an affiliate faculty member at the School of Dentistry. (Fall 2010)
Dr. William Kirschner, Vashon, Wash.: I am still practicing in West Seattle and working one day a week as an affiliate faculty member at the School of Dentistry. (Fall 2010)
Dr. Ted Leonard, Auburn, Wash.: I am still practicing in Auburn, even though my younger brother Keith recently sold his practice in Marysville and is off on a two-year mission for the LDS Church to St. George, Utah. I recently re-equipped my office, so I have no plans to retire anytime soon. (Fall 2010)
Dr. Jerry McKellar, Colville, Wash.: Retired from dentistry several years ago to pursue a sculpting career. (“What a talent he has – with major works all over the place,” says Dr. Barnes.) (Fall 2010)
Dr. John A. Samuelson, Anchorage, Alaska: I am still alive!!! (Spring 2010)
REUNIONS
The Class of 1969 and their spouses got together on July 27 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Seattle for some good conversation and fellowship. Each classmate shared a five-minute catch-up about what they have been doing. Of the 17 who attended, nine are still practicing to some extent. Most of this group have been married for around 50 years or more. Two couples came from California. The rest were from Washington. Five were instructors in our School of Dentistry for many years. Only one has a child who also is a dentist. Several other classmates who didn’t come also have children who became dentists. –Deck Barnes
IN MEMORIAM
DR. JERALD D. BATES, DDS CLASS OF 1969
Dr. Jerald Dayle “Jerry” Bates of Woodinville, Wash., passed away on Jan. 1, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was 79.
He was born on Aug. 24, 1942, to Dayle and Edna Bates in Norfolk, Va., and grew up in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. At the age of 13, he earned the Boy Scouts Eagle Award. In 1959, his family moved to Bothell, Wash. He graduated from Bothell High School in 1960. In 1961, he met Carol Ann Baldwin and they wed in 1964. After graduation and service as a lieutenant and dentist in the U.S. Navy, he opened a dental practice in downtown Woodinville (1971), where he worked for 50 years. One of his first priorities for his new practice was becoming a regular advertiser in The Woodinville Weekly and an early member of the Woodinville Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Bates was also a passionate athlete who coached all of his children in baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer for 19 years (including Northshore Select soccer). He was a longtime sponsor of local youth sports teams and community events in and around Woodinville, including sponsorships with the local high schools. He watched as many of his grandchildren’s sporting events as he could – sometimes 10 or more games in a weekend, as well as games in the evenings after work.
His love for his family extended into the relationships he built at his dental office. His beloved patients sought him out for his cutting-edge dentistry and stayed with his practice because he truly cared for them and made them feel at home.
Dr. Bates is survived by his wife, Carol; children Susan (Jeff) Halstrom, Wes (Julie), Ann (Jeff) McGowan, and Tianna (Chris) Flowers; grandchildren Kaeli, Max, Zach, Kennedy, Ryan, Riley, Ava, Tyson, Jacob, Liam, Nellie, and Kameron; and brother Ron.
DR. ROY M. GUNSOLUS, DDS CLASS OF 1969
Dr. Roy Mathew Gunsolus III died on Sept. 14, 2021 in Edmonds, Wash., after a heroic fight with Parkinson’s disease. He was 76. He was an associate professor and faculty member in the School’s Department of Orthodontics from 1983 to 2012, teaching residents one or two days per week.
Dr. Gunsolus was born on Oct. 25, 1944 in Bakersfield, Calif. His father’s military service took the family to various facilities. The most memorable for Dr. Gunsolus was the Kodiak Naval Air Station, where he became an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He spent many hours fishing and hiking with his dad.
Dr. Gunsolus received his undergraduate degree in biology from the UW. After dental school, he spent three years in military service in Germany and returned for graduate training in orthodontics at the University of California, San Francisco. He was in a private orthodontic practice from 1973 to 2012.
He was a member of the ADA, AAO, and PCSO (past winner of the PCSO Award of Merit), a Diplomate of the American Board, and a past president of the Angle Society. He served on the PCSO Board of Directors and as chair for the AAO Council on Practice Management. He retired from private practice in North Seattle in December 2012.
Dr. Gunsolus loved his family, sailing, biking, racing his beloved Porsche, gardening, and collecting trains. He shared anything he owned, including boats, houses, and food. He encouraged his family, students, and friends to work hard, take risks, and trust in yourself.
Dr. Gunsolus is survived by his wife, Barbara; children Roy IV (Jill), Turi Lucas, and Kari (Mitch) Ketner; grandchildren Mitchell, Simone, Malia, Oliver, Roman, and Addison; great-grandchild Carter; sister Skye (David) Sugar; and many other relatives and friends. (Dignity Memorial)
DR. DARYL J. HABICH, DDS CLASS OF 1969
Dr. Daryl J. Habich passed away on Jan. 24, 2022. He was 78.
He was born on March 5, 1944 in Washington. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1962, and was a proud UW Husky who never missed an opportunity to harass anyone who did not don purple and gold.
Dr. Habich never shied away from hard work and put himself through dental school while working full time as an ironworker for Zesbaugh. He worked on notable projects such as the Space Needle and enormous rolling steel hangar doors for Boeing. At only 18 years old, he drove a huge hoist truck full of materials from Seattle to Alaska.
He was passionate and dedicated to excellence in conservative dentistry. For over 35 years, he participated and mentored in the elite Tucker Gold Study Club, teaching in Indiana and Germany. He enjoyed teaching patients and his peers and was able to spend his last years of dentistry at the clinic he built on the airfield. Some of his patients even flew in for their appointments.
Dr. Habich was a pioneer in the field of dentistry and a true icon in the automotive world. He was a local short track and international race car driver, racing team owner, master fabricator, airport owner, airplane hangar builder, twin-engine pilot, certified flight instructor and fly-in Flour Bombing champion, general contractor, snowmobile tour operator, BBQ grill expert, and one hilarious storyteller. (Legacy.com)
DR. RONALD D. LARSON, DDS CLASS OF 1969
Dr. Ronald David Larson passed away on Aug. 15, 2022 from complications of dementia. He was 83.
He was born on March 26, 1939 to Adolph and Phyllis (McLeod) Larson in Olympia, Wash. He attended Olympia High School and graduated with a degree in political science from Washington State University. He was a teacher in Grays Harbor, Wash., for a few years while working summers on the production line at the Olympia Brewery. He opened his private dental office in Olympia in 1969. He was an active member of the Thurston County Dental Society until his retirement.
Dr. Larson was a member of the Olympia Gyro Club for over 40 years and served a term as president. He was a longtime familiar face at Tumwater Valley Athletic Club and a member of the U.S. Tennis Association.
He truly loved being in the woods hiking and hunting, chopping wood, landscaping, and working in his garden. Equally important was his love of sports. He built two tennis courts in his lifetime and his tennis luncheons with friends were fond memories for all. The Larsons enjoyed many “snowbird” months with friends in the Deep Canyon community of Palm Desert, Calif., with more tennis, golf, and countless hands of bridge. His beloved black standard poodle, Brodie, was never far from his side.
Dr. Larson is survived by his wife, Judy, of Olympia; daughters Dana Larson (Mike), Ronda (Chad) Kramer, Alisa (David) Grimm, Sharon (Rod) Peters, and Linda (Ignacio) Diaz; 13 grandchildren; brother Jerry (Bonnie) of Vancouver, Wash.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. (Legacy.com)