It is with great sadness that we report that our friend and colleague Noel Wilkie passed away October 16, 2005. 

Following is the One on One article that appeared in the AP Newsletter on Dr. Wilkie

Dr. Noel Wilkie was born in Powell, Wyoming in 1931. After graduation from Powell High School in 1949, he attended Northwest Community College. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1953 with a B. S. in Chemistry/Zoology. While attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, Dr. Wilkie was a member of the U. S. Naval Reserve. Following graduation from dental school in 1957, he was in active duty in the Navy for 2 years, then private practice for 2 years, then again in active Naval service until 1984. Dr. Wilkie served in 2 ships and completed 2 tours to Vietnam during his military career. On the second of his 2 tours (while on the Navy aircraft carrier Enterprise), he was involved in one of the Navy’s worst disasters at sea. On January 14, 1968, 500 and 1000 pound bombs exploded on the carrier’s deck; and, consequently, 28 men lost their lives. Dr. Wilkie and his team received the initial waves of casualties while manning a Battle Dressing Station closest to the flight deck. Throughout the day they continued providing medical care in confined isolation and were credited with saving several lives. The Secretary of the Navy cited Dr. Wilkie for heroic achievement for his actions that day.

Dr. Wilkie also served at the Naval Dental School where he headed residencies in prosthodontics. While there, he achieved Diplomate status, American Board of Prosthodontics in 1970. Dr. Wilkie retired from the Navy in 1984 ranked as Captain.

Dr. Wilkie certainly did not retire from prosthodontics in 1984! He joined the faculty at Georgetown University School of Dentistry. Five years later he moved to New York College of Dentistry where he was the Director of the Advanced Education Program in Prosthodontics. Dr. Dick Grisius was, in fact, the first resident trained by Dr. Wilkie! Along with all of the above achievements, he also acted as President of the American College of Prosthodontists.

Currently, Dr. Wilkie is President of the University of Wyoming Alumni Association and is a Consultant to the Naval Dental School. He also edits and publishes the newsletter "ProsStars".

Dr. Wilkie has been an avid bicyclist for approximately 10 years and a fly fisherman for over 60 years. He also enjoys gourmet cooking, writing, and carpentry.

Dr. Wilkie and his wife Connie have 2 sons: Scott is a biochemist, and Jeff is in the home improvement business. The Wilkies also have 2 granddaughters. They maintain homes in both Maryland and Delaware.