In Memoriam William R. Joule 1911–2005

William Robert Joule passed away on Friday, March 4, 2005 at the Renaissance Care Center, Tinton Falls, New Jersey at the age of 93. Throughout his life he was a learner, a teacher, a mentor and a leader.

Bill was born and educated in Kearny, NJ before he attended the University of Maryland for two years prior to entering its Baltimore College of Dental Surgery from which he received his DDS in 1934. A year later he enrolled at Columbia University College of Medicine and Dental surgery and received his Certificate of Proficiency in orthodontics in 1937.

Following graduation from Columbia he started a private practice in orthodontics in Madison, NJ and a life long career in academia as a Clinical Instructor of Orthodontics at Columbia. Both careers were interrupted by World War II service in the Army Dental Corp in which he served as first lieutenant from June 1942 through December of 1945. He continued his military activities in the Army Reserve retiring as a Colonel in 1968.

Upon return to civilian life he started an active life in both private practice and service to the community. He was the first professor and founding chair of the Department of Orthodontics at the Seton Hall University Dental School, which became the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, in 1965, and then became the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. After giving up the chair in 1970, Dr Joule continued as a professor in orthodontics until 1985 becoming the first Professor Emeritus on the University. Each year until 2002 he returned on the first day of the postgraduate program (which he established) for a presentation of the history of orthodontics.

In organized dentistry Dr Joule served as Vice President of the American Association of Orthodontists (1977–78), President of the Northeastern Society of Orthodontists (1962–63), a founding member of the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists, Vice President of the American Dental Association (1950–51), President of the New Jersey Association of Orthodontists (1966–68), and President of the Eastern Component of the EH Angle Society of Orthodontists (1957). He was a member of the Tweed Foundation, OKU and numerous other groups, in all of which he was an active participant.

After retirement from practice he volunteered at the Patterson Army Hospital in Fort Monmouth and helped found the hospitality booth. He was also active on “Lunch Break” in Red Bank, NJ and founded the “Saturday Soup” kitchen at Trinity Church in Asbury Park in 1989.

A superb clinician and one of four members of the Bull Study Group, he passed on his skill through numerous courses and his leadership at UMDNJ-NJDS. He was a skilled teacher of clinicians and a teacher of teachers. As a personal statement, he welcomed me as his successor as department chair and was my mentor as a teacher, researcher, administrator; always a gentleman and a true friend. His postgraduate students never forgot him, many of them maintained contact with him on a regular basis and he was honored by the NJDS Orthodontic Alumni Association in 2000 with its first Outstanding Faculty Award. He was a man of many years and a man of all seasons.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Laverne Joule, a daughter and son-in-law, two grandchildren and a daughter-in-law. He was predeceased by a son, William R. in 1999.

At the request of his family, contributions in his honor and memory may be made to:

The William R. Joule Library

EmBrace the Future Fund

Department of Orthodontics

New Jersey Dental School

110 Bergen Street

Newark, NJ 07101–1709