Dr. Mervyn Gornitsky D.D.S., F.R.C.D. (C), F.A.C.D., F.I.C.D., F.A.D.Q., F.A.A.H.D., F.A.I.D.S.
It is with great sadness that the family of Dr. Mervyn Gornitsky announce his passing on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 in his 93rd year. Devoted husband and best friend of Rena Steinberg for 69 years. Beloved father and father-in-law of Linda and Harvey, Richard and Marcelle, Rhonda and Michael. Dedicated grandfather to Ian and Weiyi, Marc and Erica; Joshua, David and Amanda; Melissa and Sean, and Noah. Proud great-grandfather of Ethan, Elodie, Ilan, Rafael, and Zoey. Son of the late Dr. Israel and the late Marie Gornitsky. Brother of the late Gerald Gornitsky. Brother-in-law of Maureen Glazer. Mervyn will be fondly remembered by his nephews and nieces (Bruce and Joy, Warren and Joanne, Lorne and Dina great nieces and nephews, family, friends, his colleagues at the Jewish General Hospital and all those whose lives he touched. Heartfelt gratitude to Pastora Concepcion for her continuous care.
First and foremost, Dr. Gornitsky was a teacher. Teaching was a labor of love, and his efforts were rewarded when dentistry residents voted him “Best Teacher”. He taught into his 90s with his last student obtaining his PhD in 2021.
Dr. Gornitsky’s care had no boundaries. He treated Vietnamese refugees arriving in the late 1970s who were Hepatitis B carriers and HIV patients when no one else would.
His distinguished career in academic dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery has spanned over 60 years. According to James Lund, past Dean of the McGill Faculty of Dentistry, he has contributed more than anyone in Canada to the development of dental departments in Canadian hospitals, enabling millions access to dental care that they normally could not afford. Before Dr. Gornitsky, oral health care was rarely offered in university teaching hospitals. Now it is the norm.
He was a Professor Emeritus at McGill University, Faculty of Dentistry, and Chief Emeritus of the Department of Dentistry at the Jewish General Hospital. The dental clinic of the Jewish General Hospital has been named after him in recognition for his contribution to the development of the residency training program and dental research.
Dr. Gornitsky was a leader of medical and dental research. He authored over 60 papers on various clinical and fundamental aspects of oral medicine. His innovative work on oral pathology in patients with AIDS, on pain management, and on saliva has received wide acclaim. He received his last research grant at the age of 90.
As a husband, father and grandfather he was inspiring, fun loving and someone who you could always count on.
Funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean-Talon St. West, Friday, March 18, 2022 at 12:00. Burial at Beth Zion section, Eternal Gardens Cemetery, Beaconsfield. The service will be live-streamed. Shiva strictly private. Contributions in his memory may be made to the “Dr. Mervyn Gornitsky Memorial Fund for the Department of Dentistry” c/o Jewish General Hospital Foundation (514) 340-8251 secure.jghfoundation.org/goto/Dr_Mervyn_Gornitsky
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dr Mervyn Gornitsky DDS FRCD C FACD FICD FADQ FAAHD FAIDS 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Montreal, Province: Quebec
Dearest cousin Rena and family it is with great sorrow that we have lost merv .he touched all our lives since coming into the Parnass family 69 years ago . he was always a joy to be with . Our hearts will miss him so much We will always remember and be grateful for all the good times we shared with him he was an inspiration and a roll model.your loving cousins Myrna and Brenda and families