George Blue Spruce Jr.

Dr. George Blue Spruce Jr., D.D.S., M.P.H., 94 of Santa Fe, New Mexico went home to be with the Lord on June 3, 2025, in Surprise, Arizona. He was a devoted husband of 29 years to his wife Patricia and is survived by his daughter Sharon Blue Spruce (Dean) of Evanston, Illinois; daughter Reni Blue Spruce (Ron) of Chicago, Illinois; and son Duane Blue Spruce (Katie) of New York City. He was the step-father to daughter Saasha Heinrich (Gary), daughter Rachel Heinrich and daughter Snow Heinrich (Andy). He was the grandfather to Shaylyn and Alli Siefer and to Miles and Milena Blue Spruce and was the step-grandfather to Tanner, Micol, Cassidy, Teal, Laike, and Lyric Reader, Rachel Lia Calvis, and Garith and James Wilfong. He is preceded in death by his father George Blue Spruce Sr., his mother Juanita and his brother Beryl and is survived by his sister Mary Jane (husband Phil Cote) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Blue Spruce was born on January 16, 1931. He was one of the first generation Pueblo American Indians to graduate from college. He grew up at the Santa Fe Indian School where he was born and both his parents were employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Dr. Blue Spruce attended elementary school in Santa Fe and in Irvington, California during World War II. He attended Jr. high school at St Michael's in Santa Fe and graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree (DDS) in 1956. He was recognized as the first full-blooded American Indian to become a Dentist in the United States. He later earned a graduate Degree in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967. Dr. Blue Spruce served on numerous councils, boards and committees, and played a leadership role in those various organizations. He was the director of National Indian Programs in Washington, DC; promoting health, economic and social self sufficiency for all American Indians. He was named Indian of The Year, by two organizations; in 1972, by The National Congress of American Indians, and in 1974, by The Western Tribes of Oklahoma. He served many years on the board of trustees at the world famous Heard Museum, as well as the Arizona Governor's council on health and physical fitness. In 1990, he founded the Society of American Indian Dentists which is dedicated to the recruitment and retention of American Indian students who desire a career in Dentistry. He also wrote the draft legislation which created Indian Health Service Scholarships for American Indian students who wish to pursue careers in the health professions. Upon graduation from Dental School, Dr. Blue Spruce served two (2) years in the US Navy, treating patients in the Submarine Service including the crew of the "Nautilus" the first atomic submarine. He spent a 28 year career in the US Public Health Service, most of which was spent in the Indian Health Service; and in 1980 attained the rank of Rear Admiral, and was promoted to Assistant Surgeon General. He was proud of and cherished his Ohkay-Owingeh and Laguna Pueblo heritage. He served as a good role model and ambassador for his Indian people as he traveled all over North, Central and South America promoting oral health, teaching and practicing dentistry for the World Health Organization and the US Public Health Service. After retirement, he became the Assistant Dean for American Indian Affairs at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health; a position which kept him young by working with American Indian dental students. He enjoyed exercising daily, attending sporting events, rooting for the Arizona Cardinals, the Phoenix Suns and his favorite tennis players. Dr. Blue Spruce was an avid tennis player, playing in high school, college, the Navy and in many tournaments around the country. He won the singles championship and other senior titles at the National American Indian Tennis Championships, as well as the Arizona Senior Olympics. He was inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 for tennis. Dr. Blue Spruce loved the outdoors, fishing in a mountain spring, or running in a marathon were two of his favorites. He always had dogs and cats in his life and devoted himself to their care. Dr. Blue Spruce was loved by his family, friends, patients, colleagues, and students. He was a role model for so many to follow. He will be remembered for his many courageous stands taken on behalf of American Indian people, his love of laughter, and his way of making others feel valued. His presence will be missed, but his legacy will live on in our hearts. He will be interred with full Military Honors at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dr. George Blue Spruce Scholarship Fund at www.giving.atsu.edu/Blue Spruce. There will be a Celebration of Life Ceremony at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 2:00PM. Everyone who loved or respected George is welcome to come and share stories with us.