CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 8

46 | 2018 | Issue 8 O bituaries REMEMBERING DENTISTRY LEADERS DR. GORDON CHONG Dr. Gordon Chong of Toronto passed away on July 13, 2018. He was 74 years old. Dr. Chong was a Toronto-raised dentist who became a politician and community leader in that city. Over the span of his long political career, he held several senior positions focusing on housing, transit and municipal affairs. After he graduated from the University of Toronto’s faculty of dentistry in 1967, Dr. Chong established a practice in downtown Toronto, while raising his family in North York. Dr. Chong had always felt the need to serve his community, first by practising dentistry, and then by getting involved in politics. His political career was launched in 1979, when he participated in his first election and became city councillor of the Downtown Toronto Ward, the same area where his practice was established. While maintaining his dental practice, Dr. Chong served on Metro Council from 1994 to 1997 and between 1998 and 2001 he was a member of Toronto City Council. Strongly committed to serving the public and making Toronto a better city, Dr. Chong held numerous positions, including chair of GO Transit, the Metro Toronto Housing Authority and the Greater Toronto Services Board. He also founded and chaired the Housing Services Corporation and served as chair of the YMCA of Greater Toronto Board. Proud of his Chinese heritage, he also became a voice for the Chinese Canadian community and other ethnic minorities. Dr. Chong was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Office of the Governor General of Canada for his community leadership and his invaluable contribution to public service. He is survived by his wife Shirley Hoy; his three children, Russell, Jeffrey and Wendy; and four grandchildren. a JOSEPH ( JOE) ROBERTSON The dental industry experienced a huge loss with the death of Mr. Joe Robertson of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, a leading figure in the Canadian dental supply industry. Mr. Robertson was killed with his wife, Anita, and 24-year-old daughter, Laura, in a plane crash on July 30, 2018. He was 58 years old. Mr. Robertson earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University in 1981. He attended Harvard University and obtained an MBA in 1987. Shortly after graduating, Mr. Robertson bought Pro-Mart, a small dental supply company, with his business partner and friend Mr. Carman Adair, and developed the business under the name Arcona Health Inc. In 1998, they sold the company to Henry Schein Dental. Between 1989 and 2005, Mr. Robertson was CEO and chair of the board of directors of Schein’s Canadian subsidiary, Henry Schein Arcona Inc. More recently, the two business partners acquired Amax Health Inc., a Canadian- owned national dental and medical supply company. Mr. Robertson was its CEO and president. Mr. Robertson was a very active volunteer. He served on the Board of Directors of Brock University for over 10 years and chaired the Council of Chairs on Ontario Universities. Mr. Adair describes Joe and Anita as “exemplary citizens and philanthropists in the Niagara region.” They were indeed well-known in the community for their contributions to various causes. The Robertsons led the United Way of St. Catharines campaign, through which they supported the arts, health care, and education. Niagara Health and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, among others, benefited from their generous donations. The Robertson family is survived by two sons, Clark and Taylor. a