EUGENE H. SPIEGEL

SPIEGEL, EUGENE H.

Eugene H. Spiegel passed away peacefully in his sleep April 14th, 2013, in Gainesville, FL. He was born in Clifton, New Jersey, December 20th, 1927, the son of Herbert and Elsa Spiegel. He graduated from Hawthorne High School in New Jersey at the age of 16, and from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School at 21. He was then commissioned a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and proudly served in the Korean Conflict, obtaining the rank of Captain by the war's end. Upon returning home, Dr. Spiegel attended Graduate School in Oral Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania for two years and then completed his two-year residency in Oral Surgery under the Belleview New York Hospital System. He completed his Boards and became a member of the American Board of Oral Surgery in 1965.

Dr. Spiegel practiced dentistry at several Veterans Medical Centers throughout the nation before coming to Gainesville in 1967 to open the new VA Medical Center as its first Chief of Dental Services. He was immensely proud of the many dental residents and dental students who trained under him, and of the continuing successes they had thereafter. He had a faculty appointment with the University of Florida Dental School, assisting in curriculum for the new College of Dentistry, and was a member of the Academy One Hundred. He continued to serve in the US Air Force Reserves, Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Ga., until he retired at the rank of Colonel in 1992. He retired from the VA Medical System in 1995.

Dr. Spiegel was an avid Gators fan and cheered the team whether it was a losing season or a National Championship. He was also a voracious reader, preferring non-fiction and historical works, and loved to share his many books and articles with his friends. He was a member of the Gainesville Quarterback Club, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Delta Sigma Delta Professional Dental Association, and an Elder and Trustee of First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, where he also served on the Building Committee.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years Nancy Vogt Spiegel; a son, Geoff Spiegel of Gainesville; daughters Kathryn (Roger) Medlock of Gainesville and Marion (Bruce) Hoffmann of Tallahassee; and a brother, William Spiegel and his wife Barbara of Hawthorne, New Jersey. He also adored his only grandson, his namesake, Travis Eugene Hoffmann.

A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 106 SW 3rd Street, Gainesville, Florida 32601. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the Returning Uniform Services Scholarship at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, P.O. Box 100405, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, or the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville. Arrangements under care of MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES 311 South Main Street Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 376-5361.