Dr. Richard D'Eustachio

Dr. D dedicated his life to dentistry. In his early career, Dick practiced dentistry by day and worked at a knitting mill by night to make ends meet. He eventually owned a practice in Cherry Hill for 40 years (popular because he opened at 6 a.m.), but he always felt that teaching was his real calling. After his retirement from practice, Dick would pass on his knowledge to a trove of students at UMDJ, Virtua Dental Program and the University of Pennsylvania. He became a dominant force in many dental groups: president of the Southern Dental Society of New Jersey, the New Jersey Dental Association and eventually the American Dental Association, becoming president of the ADA in 1996. Dick was an athlete in the days of his youth, playing football at Burlington High School and Ursinus College. His love of sport continued into his later years as he watched baseball, football, and even began learning about “the beautiful game” of soccer. Relaxing times found him in his yard making his garden just right and he loved jazz music. Dick could build and fix just about anything; every room in his house has his mark on it, from the tile on the floor, the moldings around the windows, even the exposed beams in the ceiling. He was raised in Beverly, graduated from Burlington High School and resided in Cherry Hill since 1965.

While a dental student at the University of Pennsylvania, he met a pretty student nurse; they were married right before the newly-minted Dr. D entered the US Army. Dick and Carol would share a 62-year marriage, blessed by two children, Laura (Jonathan) Maron and Richard (Dawn Rosner) D’Eustachio and grandchildren, Joshua, Jason, John and Jack.

Come celebrate 89 great years Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Locustwood Cemetery, Cherry Hill.