Bruce Hottum

Bruce Hottum GLENFORD- Bruce Hottum, beloved son, husband, father, dentist, and teacher, died in Ramsgate, England, on July 21, 2017. Dr. Hottum, 63, lived in the Hurley hamlet of Glenford, N.Y. The son of George and the late June Hottum, he grew up in Huntington, N.Y. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor of science in biology, and from New York University College of Dentistry. Dr. Hottum completed his residency at Bellevue Hospital Center, Department of Oral Surgery. At the time of his death, he was exploring a graduate program in forensic anthropology. He was a lifelong learner, with an inquisitive mind, and an endless sense of curiosity. His curiosity, joy and sense of adventure, and the many faceted nature of love for his wife, Peggy and their three sons, Jack, Dean and Pete, is the great inheritance he leaves behind. Dr. Hottum was a member of the Pine Street Dental family for 31 years. The interactions with his coworkers and patients were the central part of his day. His passion for helping others was reflected in his expertise, always providing the highest level of care. He served as a New York State emergency medical technician, a National Ski Patrol member and instructor at Belleayre Mountain and West Point. He was an American Safety and Health CPR instructor, an instructor with Lifeguard Systems teaching swift water, small boat, and ice rescue, an Outdoor Emergency Care instructor and toboggan instructor, and was heavily involved in the Young Adult Program at Belleayre Mountain. Dr. Hottum was a member of the Wilderness Medicine Society, the New York State Police Investigators Association Surgeon Group, the American Society for Forensic Odontology, the Dental Identification Unit NYC Medical Examiner 9-11-01, and he assisted local and state police as a Forensic Dental Consultant, as well as the homicidal drowning investigation unit of RIPTIDE. Dr. Hottum taught pre-hospital care to fire, emergency medical and military personnel. His students number in the hundreds. He was a busy guy. When the World Trade Center towers collapsed, claiming thousands of lives, he worked long hours in the emergency tents as a member of FEMA response team. His work there marked him deeply for years. He was meticulous and had a calming touch and manner. He laughed easily. In the last few years he began his volunteer work with Bent Prop Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to locating and assisting with the identifying American prisoners of war and missing in action from World War II and other conflicts around the world. Bruce was struck by the importance of paying respect to those men and women who have served. It was his passion to assist in the locating and repatriation of the missing. Adventure, exploration and the love and friendships that followed in its wake, was the point of his life. Dr. Hottum is survived by his father, wife, and three sons. His life will be celebrated in a memorial service on Aug. 12, 2017 at the Bearsville Theater, in Woodstock, N.Y., from 2 to 5 p.m. Those wishing to make a donation in his memory may do so to the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, Scholarship Fund, SUNY New Paltz, 1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, N.Y., 12561, www.newpaltz.edu/give.