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John I. Ingle, D.D.S., M.S.D. (1919-2017):\nA Pioneer and a Leader in Endodontics<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The AAE regrets to announce the passing of beloved past president and endodontic legend Dr. John I. Ingle, on Sept. 25, 2017, in San Diego. He was predeceased by his wife, Joyce Ledgerwood Ingle, who died March 8, 2014. They had been married for nearly 74 years and leave three children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.<\/p>\n
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A pioneer, educator and international leader in the field of endodontics, Dr. Ingle is widely known for his authoritative textbook, \u201cENDODONTICS,\u201d first published in 1965. The textbook, now called \u201cIngle\u2019s ENDODONTICS,\u201d is in the process of being published in its seventh edition. A Diplomate and founding member of the American Board of Endodontics, Dr. Ingle served as president of the AAE from 1966-1967. He received the AAE\u2019s Ralph F. Sommer Award in 1987 and the Edgar D. Coolidge Award, the AAE\u2019s highest honor, in 1999. He was honored by the AAE General Assembly at the Annual Session in 2015.<\/p>\n
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Dr. Ingle\u2019s life was, of course, devoted to endodontics, but being a great-grandson of the pioneer Daniel Boone from Tennessee, he found time to also enjoy living an eventful life. In dental school, he befriended Cheddi Jagan, who, after graduation, went back to British Guyana to help push the British out and become the country\u2019s first president. More locally, Dr. Ingle mixed with many leaders, including Willie Brown, former California Assembly speaker and San Francisco mayor, with whom he was honored by the Black Dentists of Southern California. His friendship with Walt Disney is described in the DVD mentioned above. In 1973, shortly after President Nixon\u2019s trip to China, Dr. Ingle participated in an elite delegation of American health scientists and educators on a study tour of China under a new exchange program.<\/p>\n
The impact that Dr. Ingle has had on colleagues around the world is evidenced by some of the many comments that have been made:<\/p>\n
Jens O. Andreasen, Copenhagen, Denmark:<\/strong>\u00a0The endodontic world has lost a great innovator and inspirational educator. The first dental book I bought was \u201cEndodontics\u201d in 1965, and it became a great experience to get so many aspects of endodontics presented in such an illustrative way.<\/p>\n Rafael Mi\u00f1ana, Spain:<\/strong>\u00a0His yellow book on endodontics has been my guide during my years of practice and teaching in Spain. Thank you very much, John.<\/p>\n James D. Johnson, University of Washington, Seattle:<\/strong>\u00a0I fell in love with endodontics by reading Dr. Ingle\u2019s first edition of the textbook \u201cENDODONTICS.\u201d Little did I know as a sophomore dental student at Northwestern that we would interact in the future.<\/p>\n Harold Slavkin, former dean, University of Southern California:<\/strong>\u00a0John hired me as a new assistant professor in 1968 and thereafter served as my mentor and unconditional supporter for many decades to follow. He repeatedly said, \u201cYou make me proud.\u201d<\/p>\n Terryl A. Propper, Brentwood, Tenn.:<\/strong>\u00a0The fondest memory I have of Dr. Ingle is when the AAE honored him in Seattle 2015. He graciously accepted the honor and when the program ended, a line formed to greet him. I thought to myself, \u201cAt age 95, Ingle still draws a crowd!\u201d<\/p>\n Steve Cohen, San Francisco:<\/strong>\u00a0John, a highly accomplished modest man from the Greatest Generation, exemplified what it means to be a gentleman and a scholar. John\u2019s big heart was often shown by his empathy and compassion. We mourn the loss of a great leader!<\/p>\n Mahmoud Torabinejad, Loma Linda, Calif.:\u00a0<\/strong>As a graduate of the University of Washington I owe my career to the vision and wisdom of teachers like Dr. John Ingle.<\/p>\n Richard E. Walton, University of Iowa:\u00a0<\/strong>Dr. Ingle was my mother\u2019s periodontist about 60 years ago. He convinced me that dentistry would be the perfect career for me. I have always been grateful for the advice he gave me then, and also for his friendship in the years to follow.<\/p>\n J. Craig Baumgartner, former director, endodontics, University of Oregon:\u00a0<\/strong>John was the epitome of gracious leadership. He always strived for excellence in all his endeavors and motivated others to likewise achieve excellence. He will be greatly missed.<\/p>\n Ben Johnson, Tulsa Dental, Oklahoma: <\/strong>Dr. Ingle\u2019s textbook was at chairside when I did my first root canal treatment in dental school, and it is in my office today. John and Joyce Ingle were the most gracious couple I\u2019ve known. Without his encouragement Tulsa Dental would not have been. I\u2019ve lost a mentor, I\u2019ve lost a friend. Thank you, John, for being you!<\/p>\n Leif K. Bakland, Loma Linda, Calif.:\u00a0<\/strong>Dr. Ingle had an influence on many professional careers, including mine. By encouraging me to write a chapter on dental trauma for the third edition, my interest in that aspect of endodontics was born. Inviting me to be co-editor of three editions of \u201cENDODONTICS\u201d gave me an opportunity to learn more about our specialty than would otherwise have been possible.<\/p>\n Robert S. Roda, past AAE president:\u00a0<\/strong>I did not have the privilege of meeting Dr. Ingle until just a few years ago, but I did benefit from his efforts by using his text in dental school and reading many of his papers as an endodontist. When I finally met him, my initial awe was replaced by warm feelings and admiration that such a giant in our field was such a friendly, wonderful and down-to-earth human being.<\/p>\n