Joe Fay

Dr. Joseph T. Fay passed away on November 19th, 2015 at the Army Residence Community in San Antonio, Texas. He succumbed to CLL (leukemia) after 15 years of treatment. He was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Ethel and Joseph A. Fay, and was preceded in death by parents and son Joseph Todd Fay. He is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Mary JoAnn Fay, daughter Diane Bare and son Michael Maguire; his sister Patricia Jarbeau, an educator and Brother Thomas Fay, Esq., former family court judge and RI Chief Justice. He and JoAnn have 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Prior to their return to active duty in 1966, Dr. Fay was the dental surgeon at N.H. state hospital and its 2,000 patients. He graduated from St. Raphael Academy, Providence College in R.I., and University of MD (BCDS) with a DDS degree, University of Pennsylvania General Hospital in the Anatomic Pathology Dept. Residency Program with ten physicians and mentored by Allen Steinberg, M.D.; Lionel Gold, DDM, M.D. was his mentor in Maxillo-Facial Pathology during this time. Between 1967-1972, he successfully completed his National Board and State dental exams in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania and both of his specialty boards. While in Germany, he was appointed a consultant to the Surgeon General in both oral medicine and maxillo-facial pathology.

Early in his career, 1962-1965 the Fays were stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia, and had the honor of caring for the royal family and H.I.M. Haile Salassie. Commander Desta, the next in line to the throne, was Joe and JoAnn’s close friend and invited them to the Royal Ball for the Queen of England and Prince Phillipe.

Dr. Fay was unable to carry on in private practice due to a rare form of muscle atrophy and loss of strength (PFK, i.e., metabolic muscle disease), which was finally diagnosed when he was medically evacuated to WRAMC from the 10th Medical Lab in Landstuhl, Germany in 1983.

He and JoAnn were stationed at Fort Lee, VA., Ethiopia private practice, WBAMC twice, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO., Esenhower Medical Center, and 10th Medical Lab in Landstuhl, Germany, where he was Deputy Commander and Chief of Pathology, and Ft. Sam Houston as the Rhoades Dental Clinic Chief. One of his patients at the time was Shaq O’Neal, Ph. D.

For more than 22 years, he participated in Harvard’s Health and Professional Study by submitting medical records, reports, MRIs, biopsy samples, etc. he has published articles in various journals to include the ADA, AMA, an Cancer.

Dr. Fay was the first Army dentist to have passed his boards in two nationally recognized specialties, and the first to be awarded the coveted A Prefix in two recognized specialties: Oral Medicine and Maxillo-Facial Pathology.

Among the most cherished of his military awards include the Order of Military Medical Merit, three Meritorious Service medals (i.e. one medal with two oak leaf clusters), and the Legion of Merit.

Col. Fay will be created and laid to rest with his son Joseph at Fort Sam National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to www.woundedwarriorproject.org or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. box 758516, Topeka, KS, 66678-8516.