CLASS NOTES
2020
Dr. Larry J. Forsythe, Bow, Wash.: Totally retired as of December 9, 2019. Only one patient left, my dad, who is 96 years old. (Spring 2020)
2018
Dr. Thomas L. Silverthorn, Silverdale, Wash.: Published my autobiography in May 2017, Stories and Memoirs of a Pigboat Sailor. And, under my pen name, Short Stories by Tom Eland. (Spring 2018)
2016
Dr. Thomas L. Silverthorn, Silverdale, Wash.: Dr. Larry Silverthorn had his short story published under his pen name, Thomas Eland. “Watercolor Boat” is included with stories by Joseph Wambaugh and T. Jefferson Parker in Last Seen Off Stingray Point, available at Amazon.com. (Spring 2016)
2011
Dr. John Drinkard, Federal Way, Wash.: I volunteered this year at a dental clinic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which provides free dental care to children from 125 orphanages. They ask for nothing but your time and expertise in working in their clinic. Perhaps you or one of your retired colleagues will look at their website (www.cambodiaworldfamily.com) and consider your own participation. This clinic is run by an Australian dentist, Dr. Robert Ogle. It’s a permanent facility with four chairs and a wonderful staff of seven Cambodian women. It’s rudimentarily equipped by Western standards, but they manage to treat 25 to 50 children each weekday morning. Dentists and dental therapists from many countries have helped out here by doing hands-on dentistry or just teaching and supervising. Most volunteers have heard about the clinic through word of mouth. Many return to help out on a regular basis. When dentists are not present, the staff does the dentistry, even though they are neither licensed nor formally educated. Dental students from both Cambodia and developed nations also rotate through to observe or practice clinical skills. It’s a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere with an appreciative staff and patients. Although I’ve been retired five years now, I transitioned from teaching to clinical work in this clinic after the first day. The Cambodian dental students, when present, are eager to get your advice and feedback. I initially learned about the clinic by researching volunteer opportunities on the Internet. Many of them appeared to be “volunteer organizations” looking to collect an up-front fee to participate. Cambodia World Family was different, and I contacted Dr. Ogle. He referred me to Dr. David Engst, a fellow UW graduate (Class of ’72) who has worked in the clinic multiple times. After listening to David for 90 enthusiastic minutes on the phone, I was sold. Phnom Penh is a colorful, stimulating city. Nearby is Angkor Wat, a UNESCO world heritage site. Food and accommodations are extremely inexpensive. You can fly directly to Phnom Penh from Seattle, or do an acclimation layover in Bangkok for a few days prior. There is a 14-hour time difference. Phnom Penh is a short, cheap flight from Bangkok on Air Asia. If any of this piques your interest, I invite you to give me a call at (206) 236-2373, or contact David at csi247g@gmail.com. (Fall 2011)
REUNIONS
The Class of 1971 celebrated its 50th reunion on Sept. 19, 2021 at Sand Point Country Club in Seattle. In the year of the pandemic, it was a time to for us to cherish the friendships that were formed, starting when we all first met in the fall of 1967 as first-year dental students. It was a time to reflect on how fortunate we are to have received an excellent education which gave us the foundation and skills to succeed in the profession. It was a time to reflect on being fortunate to live long enough to attend such an event. Our journey began with 80 outstanding individuals; there was a bit of attrition with several students realizing that dentistry was not the best fit for them. We recognized the 13 classmates who have passed away. Twenty-one classmates were able to attend, which was one less than at our last meeting five years ago. The event this year gave us a lot of laughs as we recognized each other, despite a bit more hair loss, possible weight gain, and decreased mobility. A number of tales were told of how well the new knee was working or being on the threshold of needing a new hip. We enjoyed an extended happy hour, then devoured a fine meal. During dinner, each person shared the stage to recount a few memorable events in their life, and how much being a UWSOD graduate means to them. – Mike Doyle
The Class of 1971 held its 45th reunion at Sand Point Country Club on Sept 24,2016.
We all met in the fall of 1967 as entering first-year students in the School of Dentistry, and find it hard to believe that our friendships are now 49 years old. We recall that the entering class had 80 students; attrition accounted for the loss of several prior to graduation, and 10 of our members have since passed away.
With 22 members in attendance, we sat down for dinner at one long table. Each person gave a brief review: “What am I doing now?” The highlight of the evening was sharing stories with our honored guest, Dr. Gerald Harrington. He had recently completed his graduate training in Endodontics when we entered the School, and was revered as one of the finest instructors during our four years there. It is always fun to reflect back to where we were then, where we thought we might be, and where we are now.
At each reunion, we are reminded of our youth as we view the class movie, and ask, “Is that really me?” In the final analysis, we have been fortunate to be educated at the University of Washington and to have had a positive impact on the lives of so many people that we helped through the practice of dentistry. – Mike Doyle
IN MEMORIAM
DR. STEPHEN W. CHRISTENSEN, CLASS OF 1971
Dr. Stephen Wayne Christensen passed away of natural causes on Aug. 6, 2021 at his home in Ririe, Idaho. He was 75.
He was born on Jan. 26, 1946 in Vernal, Utah, to Margie Ladell and Boyd Leon Christensen. He lived in many places growing up, including Peru, California, and Idaho. He spent his teenage years in Boise, graduated from Borah High School, and attended Utah State University. While in college he married Bobbie Deane Worthen. After dental school he joined the U.S. Army, where he served as a captain and dentist for two years. He had a private dental practice in Rexburg, Idaho, for over 30 years. He finished his dental career in Alaska, where he worked for 10 years before retiring.
He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he and his wife served a mission to Birmingham, England. He spent many days fishing rivers and lakes and hunting big game and waterfowl with his sons, grandsons, and close friends.
Dr. Christensen is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bobbie Deane; children Brian (Karie) of Rexburg, LeeAnn (Dave) of Missouri, and Todd (Carleen) of Ririe; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and sister Peggy. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Max. (Post Register)
DR. CARL N. COLLIER III, CLASS OF 1971
Dr. Carl Nathaniel Collier III passed away on June 27, 2018 in his Sunriver, Ore., home after a courageous battle of nearly seven years with metastatic prostate cancer. He was 73. He was surrounded by family and his faithful canine companion, Wicket.
Dr. Collier was born on Nov. 11, 1944 in Paducah, Ky. to Julia Gilliam and Carl N. Collier Jr. He was raised in Colorado, where he loved fishing, hunting and trapping. He graduated from Englewood High School in Englewood, Colo., in 1963 and from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 1967. He pledged Alpha Tau Omega at Colorado State, where he made many lifelong friends. It was at an Alpha Tau Omega and Tri Delta mixer that he met his partner, Linda. After graduation they moved to Linda’s hometown of Seattle and married on June 17, 1967 at Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Kenmore, Wash.
After graduating from the UW School of Dentistry, Dr. Collier started and maintained a dental practice in Bothell, Wash., for over 35 years. He was active in the Bothell community and served on the board of directors during the planning and construction of the Bothell YMCA pool and facility. He enjoyed nearly 20 years with the Connecticut Dental Study Club, continuing his education and skiing throughout the West with that group.
The Colliers were very generous with their time and talents. He was a man of great faith and served the community in many capacities. He served on the vestry at Church of the Redeemer and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Seattle. He was grateful for, and proud of, his long leadership with his wife in Episcopal Marriage Encounter, where they served as a National Team Enrichment Couple, training other couples to lead Marriage Encounter weekends. Their leadership and training took them throughout the United States, Canada and Ecuador.
Dr. Collier’s passions were his family, skiing, fishing, and boating. He skied with his family at Mount Bachelor and during vacations around the country. He enjoyed fly fishing at the many lakes and streams in central Oregon. The Colliers took up boating in their 30s, eventually living aboard their 61-foot Tollycraft, Reflections, for 14 years. They joined the Roche Harbor Yacht Club and Seattle Yacht Club. In 2006, he served as commodore of the Roche Harbor Yacht Club. Each summer the couple joined friends on cruises into the San Juan Islands, British Columbia and Alaska. He realized a lifetime goal of cruising their boat from Seattle to Glacier Bay, Alaska.
Dr. Collier is survived by his loving wife, partner and first mate, Linda; daughter Meris; son and daughter-in-law Ryan and Holly; grandsons Austin, Jacob, and Sean; sister Cherye; mother-in-law; in-laws; nieces; and nephews. (Seattle Times)
DR. DENNIS M. MIYA, CLASS OF 1971
Dr. Dennis M. Miya passed away on Sept. 24, 2020 in Seattle, after a brief illness. He was 75.
He was born on Feb. 11, 1945 to Minoru and Ume Miya in Ogden, Utah. He attended the University of Utah. After serving in Vietnam as an Army dentist, he returned to Seattle, where he launched and maintained his dental practice in Burien for 40 years. He enjoyed a wonderful retirement with countless hours of golf, squash, and fishing.
Dr. Miya is survived by his wife of 35 years, Janet; daughter Nicole; father, Minoru; siblings Gerald (Cyndee), Wayne, and Cheryl (Harley) Aoki; and the large extended Miya family. (Seattle Times)
DR. JOHN D. WALSH, CLASS OF 1971
Dr. John David Walsh died Oct. 31, 2013 in Anchorage, Alaska. He was 70.
Dr. Walsh was born in Chicago to Tom and June Walsh. His family moved from Arizona to California to Washington and Oregon, due to the job demands on his dad. Walsh graduated from Bellevue High School, where he was a student athlete. Wrestling and track were his favorite sports. He attended Arizona State University, but graduated from the University of Washington. He loved his Dawgs. Afterward, he settled in the Seattle area and opened a private practice.
Dr. Walsh was a talented dentist who had a gentle and caring way of dealing with difficult cases. In 1976, with the opening of the Alyeska pipeline and the oil boom in Alaska, the Teamsters contracted his services, and he packed up and moved north. He intended to stay in Anchorage for a couple of years. Thirty-seven years later, he had no wish to retire and had a committed list of patients coming long distances just to be under his care. He stayed with the Teamsters until 1984, when he opened his state-of-the art private practice on the 13th floor of downtown Anchorage’s only high-rise at the time. His motto was “Whole body health includes your teeth.” He was a student of his profession and truly a pioneer in his field. A hard-working and giving man, he was committed to his profession and giving back to the community.
The life he loved so much was cut short by malignant melanoma. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, which had metastasized in his brain, on Nov. 15, 2012. He fought a very difficult fight with courage and dignity. He was an organ donor, but because of the melanoma and his age, he was robbed of giving his most precious organ, his heart. Two ladies did receive the gift of sight from the donation of his corneas.
He is survived by his wife, Amelia; daughter Nicole; son John; granddaughters Rileigh, Raegan, and Piper; and many other relatives.