Volume 9 • 2022 • Issue 5

Remembering Dentistry Leaders Dr. DonaldMulcahy Dr. Donald F.J. Mulcahy passed away on February 26, 2022, at age 90. B orn in Clydach, Wales, Dr. Mulcahy and his wife Iris immigrated to Canada in 1955. After settling, he worked first as a dental technician before being accepted into the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry in 1963, fromwhich he graduated as a dentist in 1967. He opened a dental practice and ran it for 7 years in Toronto before moving to London, Ontario, to take a position at Westminster Hospital providing dental services to veterans. This is also where Dr. Mulcahy started his academic career in dentistry, working as a clinic administrator with the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario and later on at the University of Alberta. Dr. Mulcahy was described by his colleagues as a person with high principles, an impeccable work ethic and unwavering beliefs of right and wrong. He was known to be a strong advocate for his students, always supporting them in their learnings and interactions with patients. In a high-stress environment, Dr. Mulcahy knew how to remain calm, turning any potentially difficult situation into a positive one. He had a down-to-earth demeanour that was appreciated by his students. After his retirement, Dr. Mulcahy combined his passion for dentistry and art to work part-time on removable prosthetic cases. “Watching him work on these cases was fascinating,” says Dr. Ian Mah who met Dr. Mulcahy in the late 1980s as a student to later become a colleague and friend. “He did all of his own setups, customized them and turned every one of his finished cases into works of art! He truly was a master at the craft because his dentures always fit perfectly into the person’s face. Nothing looked fake!” Dr. Mulcahy had many creative pursuits, including his painting and writing skills which he honed throughout his life. He was an accomplished painter, photographer and writer. CDA featured some of Dr. Mulcahy’s artistic works in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (see below). He wrote several books and compiled an anthology of writers based on the experience of emigrating to a new country. He also held local exhibitions of his paintings and photography. Dr. Mulcahy reinvented his approach to art many times and at age 90 continued to produce new works, focusing on photographic collages. He served as an inspiration for his family on the importance and value of being creative throughout your life, especially as one ages. Dr. Mulcahy is survived by his wife of 66 years, Iris Mulcahy. He was the father of Lynne Mulcahy (Paul Murray) and the late Angela Mulcahy (2020). He had 3 grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Dr. DonaldMulcahy’s JCDA cover art in January 2000. Pebbles, Quadra Island, B.C. is an acrylic on gessoed masonite. His painting was based on a photograph. 46 | 2022 | Issue 5 Obituaries