Mark M. Spagnuolo, DDS

On July 19, 2020 our family’s beloved patriarch, Dr. Mark Spagnuolo, passed away peacefully into the arms of his heavenly father where he was reunited with his parents, Anthony and Rose Spagnuolo; his in-laws, Peter and Louise Novello; his brother and sister-in-law, Orlando and Gloria Spagnuolo; sister-in-law Josephine Scarbro; and grandson, Nicholas Peyton Moore.

Dr. Mark M. Spagnuolo, an East Lansing resident, Army veteran and esteemed dentist was born in Midland, Michigan on July 23, 1928 as the son of Anthony and Rose (DeRose) Spagnuolo. At four years old, the family moved to Caro, in the thumb of Michigan, where they operated a confectionery store. His father had a theory of how to survive the great depression; stay open every day until midnight and provide the best possible service with low overhead. To accomplish this goal, he employed his mother, brother, Orlando, and Mark. Mark learned at an early age to work and accept responsibility.

Mark had a lifetime of devotion to Scouting, where he advanced to Eagle Scout with 56 Merit Badges, with Bronze, Silver and Gold Palms. He continued in all levels of leadership from Patrol Leader to Scout Master, Chairman of the Troop's Committee, along with teaching swimming and lifesaving at Camp Rotary in Clare County. In the Sea Scouts, he also was a recipient of the Quartermaster award (equivalent to Eagle Scout). There were only two in Michigan who obtained both awards in the period

of 1940 through 1960.

Mark was a four year letterman in football and track and was captain of his high school football team. He helped lead the team to three championships and set a state record of 27 consecutive wins. Mark was selected for three years to the Upper Thumb All Star team (a tri-county mythical team representing the Michigan Thumb area) and twice to the All N.E. State Football Team.

In 1946, he was selected as one of 800 outstanding high school scholars and athletes for Michigan's Boys State and was elected to the third highest position as Secretary of State.

Mark earned a Bachelors of Science degree from Central Michigan University, where he was president of his class in 1949, and Masters of Science degree (Bacteriology) and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Detroit.

His research thesis in dental bacteriology helped disprove the prevailing theory of thirty years which stated tooth decay was due to a specific bacteria, Lactobacillus Acidophilus. His work stated a synergistic reaction of all the organisms in the oral environment could and did produce a higher PH, which in turn would do more destruction to the dentition than the specific organism. Eighteen years later, it was confirmed by researchers at Notre Dame. During this period, he was an assistant professor at two nursing schools and for the first year dental students.

Mark was also very committed to his country by serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps. There, he was instrumental in forming the Army's first mobile dental service. He served as one of its first commanders in the Milwaukee, WI, Chicago, IL, and Gary, IN Nike Defense and Early Warning System and wrote the operational manual which was utilized until cessation of the operations over ten years later.

Eventually, he was elevated to Chief of Operational Dentistry, Chief of Oral Surgery and finally Executive Officer of Fort Sheridan Dental Detachment.

While in the army he had many responsibilities, one was taking and evaluating the dental qualifications of candidates to West Point. In the two years he was in charge of performing this assignment, he did not have one congressional investigation while there had been the previous three years. He played a vital role in the discharge and separation from the service of Specialist Third Class William S . Girard, who was charged with shooting and killing a Japanese woman on a rifle range in Japan. It became an international incident with mass demonstrations taking place in front of American embassies all over the world with communists aiding the furor. Girard was turned over to the Japanese government, tried

and sentenced to three years of hard labor. The Defense Department thinking the decision unfair ordered the Pentagon to bring the soldier back to the United States and discharge him from the service, then informed the Japanese of a mix up which placed the individual out of government jurisdiction.

Mark was placed in charge of the American end of the operation and successfully completed the task without adverse repercussions from the more than 100 world-wide reporters wanting to interview Girard.

After discharge, he established a private practice in Lansing. The following year as Chairman of the Public Relations Committee, he wrote, directed, and his committee produced , "A Smile is to Keep," a 16 mm 15 minute color with sound dental education film which became the top rental of the American Dental Association's 15 educational films from 1963 to 1983. Another of Mark's achievements was the very successful half-hour television panel show, "Ask the Dentist" which was shown bi-monthly on Channel 6, Lansing.

In 1964, the City of Lansing became involved in a fluoridation referendum, Mark was named Chairman of the Special Committee on Fluoridation. He turned the issue around from a political to a health issue and obtained the biggest win the United States has ever seen with an overall margin of 4 to 1. He was a consultant to the cities of Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and Albion, all ending in referendum victories.

Along with Dr. Wayne Adgate, Mark co-founded Lansing Community College's Dental

Hygienist School. He received the Michigan Dental Association Public Relations Award

for his outstanding achievements in Dental Public Relations.

Mark and his brother Orlando, had created and co-sponsored a scholarship in memory of their father, Anthony Spagnuolo, at two Michigan high schools (Lansing Catholic High School and Caro High School).

He authored the first and only biography of America's Ace of Aces, Don S. Gentile who destroyed some 30 German planes in World War II. He also has an unproduced screen play about Gentile, and is an honorary member of the 4th Fighter Group of the U. S. Air Force and the Eagle's Squadron of the British

Royal Air Force.

He is a fellow of both the Royal Society of Health in London, England and the Academy of General Dentistry, and is listed in "Who's Who in America" and as one of the 1600 in "Who's Who in the World." Most recently, Mark was named by the Consumer's Research Council of America as "America's Top Dentist."

Mark would always say, "There are not enough meaningful words nor near enough time to tell you how blessed my life has been. My pride and joy, my wife, Sarah, who was giving, loving, caring, beautiful, and intelligent, selfless of her own needs throughout our lives. The rock of our family! No greater wife, woman, mother, grandmother or friend ever lived. Honey, I love you with all my heart and I thank you for being a part of my life!

My three beautiful, successful and intelligent children, Tina (David) Brown, Dr. Anthony (Teresa) Spagnuolo, Natalie Moore, you provided me with the utmost pride, throughout my life. Mom and I loved every precious moment we ever had with all of you. You made being parents a true joy throughout our lives. I love you more than you will ever know.

Eight beautiful grandchildren, Christopher, Rachel, & Caroline Brown, Sarah & Sabrina Spagnuolo, Alex, Mitchell, & Carter Moore, who cried silently when I hurt, laughed when we laughed and brought joy to me and every person's life they touched. They picked me up so many times without every knowing. I only needed their presence to make a difference. I will be with you all, always and forever! With all my love, Mark, Dad, and Grandpa."

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Friday, July 24, at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior. For those unable to attend, the Mass will be livestreamed on Facebook (Gorsline Runciman East Lansing Location).