Dr. Adolph BUSHELL

BUSHELL, Dr. Adolph


Dr. Adolph Bushell of Bloomfield, formerly of Avon and West Hartford, passed away peacefully on Friday, (July 26, 2013) at Caleb Hitchcock Health Center in Bloomfield with his loving wife, Bibi, by his side. Born in New Britain, the son of Russian immigrants, the late Josef and Dora Bushell, he was a decorated US Army veteran of World War II, prisoner of war in Germany, and recipient of the Purple Heart. A graduate of New Britain High School, he attended Ohio State University, and received his degree in Dental Medicine from Temple University in Philadelphia. A life-long resident of Connecticut, Dr. Bushell practiced endodontics in West Hartford during his long and distinguished career in dentistry. He was a rare breed of dentist, who went out in rain, sleet and snow, seven days a week, day or night to administer dental care to patients in pain. As a practicing endodontist, teacher and humanitarian, he made significant contributions to the profession that have earned him recognition from his peers and appreciation from those whose lives he touched. He was considered the "father of endodontics" in Connecticut. Besides practicing, teaching and lecturing world-wide, he was actively involved for many years with volunteer dentistry in third world countries in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. He served with the hospital ship, HOPE, in Sri Lanka and the West Indies, provided dental services in Guatemala and Cambodia with Heal the Children, worked to set up a dental clinic in Haiti with the Haitian Health Foundation, and led a volunteer group of dental students from the University of Connecticut to the Amazon River area of Iquitos, Peru. Dr. Bushell helped establish an organization under the auspices of the Connecticut State Dental Foundation whose goal was to collect and distribute dental and medical equipment at no charge to non-profit groups in the United States and abroad. Dr. Bushell was involved in the first 10 years of the University of Connecticut's endodontic program. During his career, he lectured and performed molar surgery demonstrations at dental schools here and abroad, namely, Boston University School of Dentistry, New York University, Columbia, Harvard and Tufts Universities. Internationally, he was a visiting professor in China, Hong Kong, Europe and South America. Dr. Bushell is a member of many associations, including the Connecticut State Endodontic Society, which he founded, the American Association of Endodontists, the Connecticut State Dental Association, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontists, and a Fellow of both the American and International College of Dentists. From 1996-2008, he served as co-curator of the Leonard Menczer Medical-Dental Museum in Hartford. Throughout his career, Dr. Bushell has been honored with numerous awards both nationally and internationally. These include the prestigous "Paul Harris Fellow Award" from the Rotary International Club for humanitarian service, and the "Daniel Lynch Award" to the outstanding dentist of the year by the Waterbury Dental Society of Connecticut. In 2009 he received The Connecticut State Dental Association's Distinguished Service Award, and the Hartford Hospital's Humanitarian Award for his international involvement in volunteer dentistry. Most recently, he was named by Connecticut Magazine as one of the "Top Dentists in Connecticut". In April 2010, the American Association of Endodontists honored Dr. Bushell with the "Lifetime Dental Community Volunteer Spirit of Service Award" at its annual meeting in San Diego, CA. Out of more than 5,000 members, he was chosen to receive this prestigious award for his humanitarianism, generosity and dedication to helping those in need. Before retiring in 2011, he was on the courtesy staff of the Connecticut Children's Hospital, and on the staff of The University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, teaching at the Hartford Hospital dental residency program. For three years, he worked with the "Mission of Mercy" to deliver free dental care to Connecticut residents in need. In his free time, he loved gardening--especially his prolific fig trees, hundreds of blueberry trees and raspberry bushes, and the thousands of colorful impatiens that he and his wife planted every year along the street of their former home in West Hartford. He was a great silversmith, enjoyed teaching jewelry-making with silver and gold wire, loved "Tag Sales", and was famous for his hand-confected gourmet chocolates that everyone savored. Besides his many professional and humanitarian accomplishments, he will be most remembered for his goodness, kindness, generosity, his calm and patient demeanor, his integrity, honesty, and dedication to caring for people from all walks of life, both here and abroad. He leaves his beloved wife, Bibi Bushell, with whom he shared 30 years as loving companions and best friends. Although there is a void in her life with his passing, there is a lifetime of many wonderful memories to cherish, especially his wit and dry sense of humor that, even in his final days, brought laughter to those attending to him. He is survived by a son and daughter from a previous marriage, Craig Bushell and Melissa Bushell, son-in-law Steven Bruce, and granddaughter Scarlett Bruce. Also surviving him are his brother, David Bushell and wife, Lillian, his cousins, Dr. Richard Rabinowitz, and Florence Abuzza, many loving nieces and nephews, and his Russian relatives, and many close friends and colleagues here and abroad. He was predeceased by his beloved sister, Blanche Feldman, his brother, Seymour Bushell and nieces, Deborah Gimbel and Shirley Gilson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Adolph Bushell Fund (35027), University of Connecticut Foundation, 10 Talcott Notch Rd., Suite 100, Farmington, CT 06032 or to the organization of one's choice. Special appreciation goes to the staff at Caleb Hitchcock Health Center, Bloomfield, and to MacLean Hospice, 75 Great Pond Rd, Simsbury, CT 06070. Dr. Bushell's wish was to be cremated. In lieu of funeral services, memorial celebrations in his honor will be held privately.