Dr. Richard J. Grisius

 

Richard Joseph Grisius was born in Chicago in 1935. During his Jesuit education, he attended the Loyola Academy, Loyola University and Loyola School of Dentistry. He met Sylvia Williams in High School when she was 15 and he was 16. They were married eight years later, on July 4th, 1959.

The next day, they departed for Dick’s first assignment in the US Navy at the Nuclear Submarine School in California, followed by duty in Taiwan, Great Lakes, the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-la (CVA38), and in Mayport, Florida. His 26-year service in the USN was capped by reaching the rank of Captain and pursuing education in Prosthodontic and Maxillofacial Prosthetics at the Bethesda Naval Dental School. In recognition of his meritorious service, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Afterwards, he was appointed as the director of Graduate Prosthodontics at the Naval Dental School, which included a Masters in Higher Education from George Washington University. He became Chief of Dental Service and mentor for the GPR program at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, and later returned to Georgetown University to serve as the Director of Graduate Prosthodontics. When Georgetown closed, he became the Director of Dental Medicine and Surgery at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.

During his professional career, he was exposed to a diversity of philosophies and techniques. He was mentored and influenced by many Academy fellows. These relationships led to collaboration on several articles and textbook chapters on preprosthetic surgical procedures.

Like his mentors, Dick pursued American Board of Prosthodontics certification. This resulted in the recognition of his achievements by his peers and subsequently he was selected to serve on the Board from 1991 to 1998 and was president from 1997-1998. This leadership recognition continued as he served as president of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics in 1988 and was the recipient of the prestigious Ackerman Award in 1995. He was elected to the Executive Council of the Academy of Prosthodontics and served as president from 2001-2002. While his professional achievements were notable, his greatest accomplishments were the relationships he formed with his family, colleagues, residents, patients, and friends. Sylvia and Dick were blessed with five children, who were born overseas and throughout the United States. Sylvia had a great influence in their upbringing, especially when Dick’s duties were away from home. Richard had a prodigious work ethic that he instilled in his children and 11 grandchildren. Richard expectations “casted a tall shadow” and all five children completed advanced education degrees leading to successful careers. His daughter Margaret completed an education in Geriatric Dentistry and son Thomas in Orthodontics.

As health problems appeared, Sylvia became his caregiver and continuous support system. As prosthodontics faded into a distant past, Dick noted that, he “truly missed the camaraderie of his dear Academy friends”.

His professional and scholarly accomplishments were only superseded by his fellowship in this Academy and his love for family. He was a generous and caring person who embraced his role as a husband, father, grandfather, doctor, mentor, and dear friend. Dick Grisius touched the lives of many – and will never be forgotten.

Capt. Richard Joseph Grisius was interred at the United States Navy Arlington National Cemetery on March 12, 2024. Godspeed!

Additional information may be found on www.APHistory.net website

By Dr. Jonathan Wiens