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September 11, 1997

James W. Smudski

James W. Smudski, emeritus professor and dean of Pitt's School of Dental Medicine, died July 25, 1997.

Smudski, 71, had suffered from pulmonary fibrosis.

A Greensburg native, Smudski served in the U.S. Navy before graduating from Pitt's dental school in 1952. He practiced in Greensburg and was a volunteer instructor at the University until 1959, when he left to earn master's and doctoral degrees in pharmacology from the University of California.

In 1964, Smudski returned to Pitt and founded the pharmacology department. He became chairperson of the physiology department in 1968. Seven years later, Smudski left for the University of Detroit. He returned to Pitt in 1983 as dental dean, a job he held until 1988.

Pitt awarded Smudski a bicentennial medallion of distinction in 1986 and named him distinguished dental school alumnus in 1990.

Surviving are his wife, Marjorie Anthony Smudski; three sons, David of Durham, N.C., Paul of Detroit and Jeffrey of Cincinnati; a brother, Allen of Grand Island, N.Y.; and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pitt School of Medicine or the school's Islam Grotto Clinic for Handicapped Children, 400 Salk Hall.

Filed under: Feature,Volume 30 Issue 2

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