|
 May 28, 2005
Richard F. Mascola Jr., D.D.S., died May 28 at the Palm Beach Gardens ( Fla.) Medical Center, at 68.
Dr. Mascola had practiced dentistry for many years in Jericho, N.Y., specializing in prosthodontics; he was also the attending prosthodontist at the Nassau County Medical Center in Mineola, N.Y., and the Catholic Medical Center in Jamaica.
A strong advocate for private dental practice, Dr. Mascola had been involved in many professional organizations at the local, state, national and international levels. At the start of his career, he had been the president and, subsequently, executive director of the Queens County Dental Society. Active in the New York State Dental Association, Dr. Mascola had served as a member of its board of governors. In addition, he had been a trustee of the FDI World Dental Federation.
Chairman of the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Communications in 1994 and a member of its board of trustees from 1994-98, representing the second district ( New York), Dr. Mascola attained national prominence in 1998 with his installation as president-elect of the ADA; he served as the president of the more than 140,000-member association from 1999-2000.
Following the completion of his term of office, Dr. Mascola and his family relocated to Florida where he accepted a part-time teaching position at the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in Fort Lauderdale; he subsequently served as director of the dental clinics and faculty practice there. In 2005, the students honored him with the Golden Apple Award, presented each year to a favorite faculty member; they also dedicated the yearbook to him.
Dr. Mascola was a veteran, serving five years in the Navy as a pilot. A flight enthusiast, he constructed his own Christian Eagle biplane in the 1980s.
A 1968 graduate of the New York University’s College of Dentistry, Dr. Mascola completed graduate studies there in prosthodontics.
He is survived by his wife, Betsy; two sons; and a daughter.
|
