GERALD SHKLAR

SHKLAR, Gerald DDS, MS 90, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, January 21. Born in Montreal, Canada, he was the son of the late Ann and Louis Shklar and the beloved husband of Se-Kyung (Sue) Oh Shklar. He earned D.D.S. degree from McGill University in 1949. Dr. Shklar moved to the Boston area in 1951 and earned a M.S. degree in oral pathology from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He joined the Tufts School after receiving his degree and was a Professor of Oral Pathology from 1961 to 1971. In July of 1971 Dr. Shklar was appointed the Charles A. Brackett Professor of Oral Pathology in what is now the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and became emeritus professor in 2000. A widely published researcher, Dr. Shklar was a leading authority on the detection of oral cancer and other diseases of the mouth. He is credited with original findings in areas in which oral disease is linked to other physical illnesses. In 2003 Dr. Shklar and a colleague received the Hayden-Harris Award from the American Academy of the History of Dentistry, the academy's highest honor, for "monumental contributions to the history of dentistry." On January 31, 2015 Dr. Shklar will receive a posthumous "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the American College of Dentists (ACD). Dr. Janice Conrad, secretary/treasurer of the ACD, said that Shklar was certainly the shining star in this profession. Dr. Shklar and his late wife, Judith Nisse Shklar, had three children. After the death of his wife, Judith, in 1992, Dr. Shklar married Dr. Sue Oh in 1997. They were colleagues in cancer biology research. Dr. Shklar is survived by his three children, David of Philadelphia, PA, Michael of Newport, NH, and Ruth of Middletown CT: four grandchildren, Aron, Emmanuel, Rachel, and Abraham; a sister Iris Shklar Ballon of Montreal and her son, Ian Ballon of Santa Monica, CA. Private services have been held. In memory of Dr. Shklar's musical accomplishments as a flutist, his wife, Sue, established the Gerald Shklar Award for a DMD student who demonstrates a passion for the humanities as distinguished from the sciences, including fields such as music, art, literature and public service. Gifts may be made to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston 02115, or by telephone at 617-432-5356.