Volume 7 • 2020 • Issue 1

46 | 2020 | Issue 1 O bituaries REMEMBERING DENTISTRY LEADERS DR. DICK HIDEKI ITO DR. STEVE ZAJACZ Dr. Dick Ito of Toronto passed away in September 2019 at the age of 67. Dr. Ito was a specialist in public health dentistry and an avid supporter of community water fluoridation (CWF) in the Greater Toronto Area. Dr. Ito completed his DDS from the University of Toronto (U of T) in 1981. From 1990 to 2003, he worked as a dentist and a dental manager at the City of Toronto Dental and Oral Health Services. Over the years, his passion for public dental health grew as he witnessed a consistent gap in oral health between rich and poor. Reducing oral health disparities became one of his priorities. In 2007, he earned an MSc in dental public health from the U of T. Before he was diagnosed with ALS, Dr. Ito was very much involved in organized dentistry. He served as the chief examiner in dental public health for the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, and he was president and a member of the executive of the Ontario Association of Public Health Dentistry. He also worked as an assistant professor in dental public health at the U of T. Dr. Ito strongly believed in the benefits of CWF. He participated in many conferences and debates to educate the public about CWF, the impact of oral health on overall health and well-being, and the prevention of oral disease. Besides public health dentistry, Dr. Ito had many different interests. He enjoyed cycling, camping, reading, cinema and opera. He was also known as an adventurous globetrotter. He is survived by special friend Dr. Lily Chan, his brother Arthur and many family members. a Dr. Steve Zajacz of Brockville, Ontario, passed away in December 2019, at the age of 76. Dr. Zajacz, or “Dr. Z” as many of his friends and patients called him, obtained his DDS from the University of Toronto in 1975. He owned a practice in Brockville and served the community for over 30 years. Dr. Zajacz was well known and respected in the area, as both a dentist and a philanthropist. His priority was always to provide the best possible patient care. He was committed to continuing education in the practice. “He took great personal pride in putting beautiful smiles on the faces of Brockville and Prescott,” says his family. Dr. Zajacz was a generous man who never missed a chance to give back. He and his wife Dina recently donated $1 million to the Brockville General Hospital to help the community for years to come. This money will go towards purchasing a new CT scanner. The Zajacz hoped that this donation would raise awareness and encourage other donors. Besides practising dentistry, Dr. Zajacz enjoyed outdoors activities. He was a golf enthusiast and an active member of the Brockville Country Club. He and his wife also loved to travel. He is survived by his wife, Dina, his four children, eight grandchildren, and many other family members. a