GEORGE ZURKOW

George A.

Zurkow, DDS

Dean of Delaware Dentistry

Dr. Zurkow, at the age of 91, died peacefully at his home this morning, Wednesday, December 13, 2006.

Dr. Zurkow devoted most of his professional and personal life to the improvement of the oral health of all the citizens of Delaware. He was the founder of DIDER, a program which provides dental care for the under served people of Delaware, and scholarships for those wishing to pursue a dental career. He spear headed the drive for the fluoridation of the Wilmington Water Supply. He was the longest serving member of the staff of Christiana Care Health Systems, starting with the dental department of Wilmington General Hospital 60 years ago and led numerous organizations. Dr. Zurkow was a past president of the American Association of Endodontics. He was the first dentist to be President of the Delaware Academy of Medicine where he sponsored the first Health Fair for the citizens of Delaware, which was attended by over 40,000 people. He was also recently instrumental in the new health initiative being launched in lower Delaware to bring good dentistry to people who otherwise have no access. Dr. Zurkow was instrumental in establishing the Delaware Technical and Community College program for the training of Dental Assistants and for the establishment of the Dental Clinic on the Wilmington Campus. As the President of the Delaware State Dental Society in 1954, he arranged for the acceptance of the first black dentists into the Delaware State Dental Society. After graduating from the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania in 1939, Dr. Zurkow was the second dental intern at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. He then spent 5 years in the U.S. Army and ended up as a Major in an Evacuation Hospital and a member of the Maxillo-Facial Plastic Team before returning to Wilmington for private practice in general dentistry and then as one of the first board certified endodontist in the United States.

Dr. Zurkow is survived by his wife, Libby; son, Peter and his wife, Erica; daughter, Deborah Zurkow-Debenedetti and her husband, Laurent; grandchildren, Benjamin, Jacob and Henry Zurkow and Raphaelle and Victor Debenedetti; sisters, Louise Koffsky and Gloria Zurkow Rubin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held for Dr. Zurkow on Friday, December 15, 2006, at 2 pm, at Temple Beth Emeth, Lea Boulevard, Wilmington. Interment will follow in Beth Emeth Memorial Park. Shiva will be held at 1902 Academy place, on Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17, at 7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to either the Department of Oral-Maxillo Facial Surgery, Attn: Edwin Granite, 501 W. 14th St., Wilmington, DE 19801; or the Delaware Academy of Medicine, 4765 Ogletown-Stanton Rd., Suite L-10, Newark, DE 19713.

Arrangements by

CHANDLER

FUNERAL HOMES

www.chandlerfuneralhome.com

(302) 478-7100