REMEMBERING ROY PAGE
With the loss of Roy, we have now witnessed the passing of one of the last remaining giants of our generation in Periodontology. His research contributions are legendary.
I had the distinct privilege of knowing him first as a teacher, then as a colleague and partner in private practice for many years, together with Saul Schluger and Bill Ammons.
It saddens me to realize that I am now the only remaining survivor of that group of 4 practice left standing. I miss each and every one of them daily.
Bon voyage to a better place, Roy. Rest in peace with the knowledge that your contributions will never be forgotten.
My warmest regards and sympathies to all,
Herb Selipsky
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roy was a giant that so many of us owed a lot of our science-minded thought processes. While he was often known as a firebrand who pushed his research associates to greatness with some resentment of his push, I will remember his kindness as he was cleaning out his office. He asked if I wanted any of his books, and readily agreed to autograph the Schuler, Page, and Youdelis Japanese edition so it could go to Kohei Fujimoto. A great man who we will always be proud to have had as a UW icon.
Bob London
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought it may be of interest for me to relate how my first introduction to Roy established our friendship over the years. I was discharged from the Air Force at McChord AFB, Tacoma, in June, 71 and moved to Seattle to wait for the grad perio program to begin in September. Back then the program had just expanded from 18 months to 21. I needed a job for the summer. I had met Bill Ammons during my bi-monthly trips to Seattle to assist the grad students in surgery. I was doing most of the perio at McChord and the Colonel wanted me to obtain more experience in surgery. Bill introduced me to Roy who had a “job” for me for the summer. My introduction to Roy was probably not quite as academic as many of you who collaborated with him on his research. Every morning, before 6am I would haunt the King County morgue (and the VA morgue) to examine the recently deceased to look for fairly “normal” gingiva. With scalpel in hand I performed quite a few gingivectomies with no need for anesthesia!! With the results of my efforts on ice I would proceed to the lab to acid and salt extract the gingival collagen. At the end of the summer I had only a few grams of collagen but it was VERY PURE and Roy told me later that he used it in his research for several years. At the beginning of my program he offered to support me on his grant while I pursued a PhD but, of course, he would expect me to enter academics. I told him that I planned to enter private practice. As it turned out, that never happened as I took a position at VCU but I often wonder how my professional life would have been different if I had worked with Roy. I always very much enjoyed chatting with him at meetings and if I ever had a question or problem to solve he was always most willing to help. He was a wonderful and talented person and will be missed by all of us.
I also knew Roy’s wife, Pat Norfleet, very well when she was Director for Science and Education on the AAP staff and I was chair of the Education Committee for eight years in the early 90s. Pat was my go-to person in running the committee during those years. She was also a great person and was a wonderful companion for Roy during these last years. As most of you know, Pat passed away just two weeks before Roy.
So, there you have a maybe little different and bizarre take on meeting our friend, Roy.
Stay safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Kent Palcanis, ‘73‘
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roy and I met in a literature review session in the fall of 1969. We differed on several points in a paper and left the session believing we individually were correct. I ran to the library and rounded the corner of the stacks, placed my hand on the volume, Roy's hand then covered mine. We looked at each other and laughed. Neither had any clue who was correct. Roy suggested we not look up the citation but rather go for a cup of coffee. I was 2- or 3 months out of dental school and had in the course of a morning made a friend for life.
Many of you may not be aware of Roy’s very humble roots.
Berea is a very small college in Kentucky and the students work there for their tuition. Some in the small hotel in town, the Boone Tavern. They are known for their hospitality training. I used to drive down there for Sunday brunch when I was living in Lexington, 1965-1969.
It was founded to help the students from Appalachia who could not afford college. So now imagine a young Roy Page coming down out of the hills to attend college at Berea. Then joining the Navy who then sent him to dental school. The rest is history.
Yes, we all remember him as a giant in our profession. But to spend an evening with Roy drinking fine wine and discussing aspects of life outside of dentistry reviled what a remarkable human being Roy Page was.
Roger Stambaugh