In Memoriam: J. Edward Gilda, DDS, MS

Ed Gilda died in Pittsford, New York, on March 6, 2000, after a long illness. Ed was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 6, 1917, to parents Julius and May Gilda. After graduation from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, he came to Rochester in 1941 as a Carnegie Fellow in the Department of Dental Research at the University of Rochester. There he earned a Bachelors degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Biochemistry.

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Ed met his beloved wife, Kjellaug (“Chell”) Langedal while attending the orthodontic program at Tufts University Dental School. Chell was among a group of 20 Norwegian students that had come to Tufts Dental School. Chell and Ed had 2 children, Edward (deceased) and Katherine, and 2 granddaughters, Maia and Krista.

Ed practiced orthodontics in the Rochester area for 36 years. He was a member of the faculty at the Eastman Dental Center for 46 years (now part of the University of Rochester). Ed was Assistant Chairman of the Eastman orthodontic program and President of the North Atlantic Component of the Edward H Angle Society of Orthodontists from 1975–1977. He initiated both the cephalometric course and the craniofacial growth and development biennial seminar series in the orthodontic program and led them for many years.

From 1955–1957 Ed served as a major in the US Army Dental Corps in Germany. Ed took up fishing late in life and went on several fishing trips to Alaska and Montana with a group of orthodontists. Ed was passionate about the fine arts and loved classical music and opera. He felt that ignorance was humanity's worst enemy and supported many organizations devoted to educating and enlightening people.

Ed was a scholar in the best sense and kept current with science, nature, and current events publications. Throughout his life he exemplified the best characteristics of humanism. Eastman students loved him for his wit, warmth, and above all his integrity.

In words he often used to describe others, he was the true gentleman and scholar.