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Volume2 Issue4
O
bituaries
Dr.WilliamG.McIntosh, apillar of Canadianorganized
dentistry, passedawayonMarch19, 2015at age99.
Dr.McIntoshgraduated from theUniversityof Toronto (Uof T)
in1937and then specialized inperiodontics, a relativelynew
fieldat the time.He servedwith theRoyal Canadian
Dental CorpsduringWWII, taught atUof T, and
workedat theSunnybrookHealthSciencesCentre
and theHospital for SickChildren.
Dr.McIntoshbecame involved inorganized
dentistryearly inhis career. He served invarious
capacities atCDA, includingas chair of the
researchcommittee, chair of theconventioncommittee,
member of theboardof governors, andmember of the
executivecommittee. Hewas electedCDApresident in
1959. “From thebeginning, Dr.McIntoshhasbeenamarked
man in the sense that itwas soonevident hepossessed
those rarequalitiesof
leadership that oneday
wouldbringhim toyou
aspresident,”saidDr. Stan
Phillips, presidingover
Dr.McIntosh’s installation
asCDApresident. “Bill
has always carried the
standardsof hisprofessionhigh; he is amanof great vision,
rareabilityanda keenexecutive.”
Dr.McIntoshwas appointedexecutivedirector of CDA in
1965, apositionheassumedwithamaster’shanduntil his
retirement in1977. Hewas aguiding light for
theboardof directors—never overbearing,
always available. “WithBillMcIntosh,we
had theepitomeof thehighest standards
indentistry,”rememberedDr. DavidPeters,
CDApresident in1972–73,when interviewed
recently.
Dr.McIntoshvolunteeredhis time, expertiseandwisdom
withmanyother dental organizations and servedon the
FDIWorldDental FederationCouncil (anorganization that
latermadehimanhonorarymember) chaired the research
committeeof theAmericanCollegeofDentists, and served
aspresident of theCanadianAcademyof Periodontology.
Dr.McIntosh receivedanhonorarydoctorate from the
Universityof Saskatchewan in1972, afirst for adentist. “He
is thechief responsibility for guiding thedevelopment of
policies indentistry in this country, policies thatwill continue
to sustain theexcellent international reputationof Canadian
dentistry,” said thenDeanofDentistryDr. JackPaynterwhen
presentingDr.McIntoshwithhisdegree.
In recognitionof his tremendous impact on theprofession
andhis invaluablecontribution to theorganization, CDA
awardedDr.McIntoshwithHonoraryMembership in1992.
Dr.McIntoshalsohadapassion for sculpting, andhe
obtainedhis fineartsdegree from theOntarioCollegeof
Arts in1984. Hevolunteeredwith theCanadianNational
Institute for theBlind (CNIB),whereheput his talent to
gooduse, creating three-dimensionalmodels and raised-
linediagrams. “Tactile illustrations are themselves sculpture
forms that incorporate shape, height and texture,”heonce
said. Hisworkat theCNIBallowedhim tocombine formand
function so that“peoplewhoareblindor visually impaired
canbetter understand theworldaround them.”
Dr.McIntosh is survivedbyhis threechildren, Gail, Chad
andAnn.
a
REMEMBERING
DENTISTRYLEADERS
DR.WILLIAMMcINTOSH
Listen toDr. Peters’
recollectionsof
Dr.McIntoshat
(Above)Dr.WilliamMcIntosh,
official CDAPresident's
photo, 1957–58.
(Right)Dr.McIntosh sculpted
thisbustofDr.Donald
Gullett, CDASecretary from
1942–64.
