Remembering Dentistry Leaders Dr. Arthur John ( Jack) Harris Dr. Arthur John (Jack) Harris of London, Ontario, passed away on January 2, 2024, at age 101. Born in Oshawa, Ontario, Dr. Harris served in Great Britain during World War II, where he held the position of dental technician. Upon his return to Canada, he attended the University of Toronto (U of T) and graduated with his DDS degree in 1950. In 1952, Dr. Harris settled in London, Ontario, and joined the dental practice of Drs. Kennedy and Stiles, practising oral surgery for many years. He went on to serve as chief of dental surgery at Victoria Hospital in London, a position he held until his retirement in 1990. During his clinical career, Dr. Harris made significant contributions to the profession by holding executive roles in the Royal Canadian Dental Corps Association (RCDCA) and the Ontario Dental Association (ODA), the latter of which he served as president in 1978. For several years, he was also a member of the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) Hospital Services Committee and in 1982 Dr. Harris received the CDA Certificate of Merit for service to the Board of Governors after sitting on the CDA Board from 1974 until 1981. Dr. Harris was honoured by the ODA in 1990 with the Barnabus W. Day Award for Outstanding Service. Dr. Harris played a key role in the creation of the University of Western Ontario’s (UWO) School of Dentistry. In his role as chair of the London & District Dental Society ad hoc School Committee, Dr. Harris was a strong advocate for the establishment of Western’s dental program in the early 1960s. His contributions to the program were recognized through a UWO Honorary Alumni of Distinction Award in 2017. Dr. Harris had a passion for the armed forces, serving as a member of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps (RCDC) and ultimately reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. BrigadierGeneral (ret.) Dr. Victor Lanctis remembers him as “an outstanding representative of the profession but most especially as a genuine and kind soul ever-ready to offer his energies and talents to anyone. His contributions to family, friends and colleagues over such a long life will remain a lasting legacy within not only the Dental Corps but within all the various communities he served so well,” says Dr. Lanctis. “Jack was a member of U of T’s 1949–51 ‘double classes,’ fully comprised of WWII veterans, and I was in awe of their life experiences not to mention their military jokes,” says Dr. Kevin Roach, who represented the ODA as a CDA Governor in 1978, along with Dr. Harris. “I was just a rookie, five years after graduation but I noted the humility shown by both Dr. Harris and Dr. Dick Evans to help pave the way for Dental Corps Commander Brigadier General Bill Thompson to serve as CDA President,” says Dr. Roach. Dr. Harris had a wide range of hobbies outside of dentistry. He enjoyed an active outdoor life and was an accomplished woodworker. He loved travelling and discovering new places, capturing these adventures through photography. He also had an interest in painting and drawing, and he volunteered his time with the Lambeth Art Association in a variety of roles, including president. He is survived by his wife Sheila Griffith Harris, his children Ken (Jo-Anne), John (Patty), Elizabeth, James (Janet), John and Jennifer. 46 | 2024 | Issue 2 Obituaries
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