A tremendous life well/lived.  There was never a better friend, surgical colleague, or a mentor for many professional students and residents who came under his purview.  My own experience with Bruce began as co-examiners on the American Board of Maxillofacial Surgery, both as examiners and as dinner companions with his lovely wife Mary.  From there we followed each other’s careers in oral surgery education.  He always was raising the bar higher and higher for our surgical specialty.  But he was also always most concerned with being a dedicated family man and friend to those were under his purview in medical/dental and surgical education.  Like his predecessor as Oral Surgery head at Harvard Dental and Mass General Hospital, Dr. Walter Guralnick, he was leader par excellence and will be sorely missed.  As a friend and colleague, I miss him like crazy!  Rest in peace, Bruce!  You did it all!

Dr. Donoff was a generous mentor and leader who offered guidance during a challenging time in my training. His kindness, wisdom and exceptional courage will be deeply missed. My deepest sympathies to his family.

We just learned of Bruce’s death through the Zamir Chorale notes.  We are so very sorry.  He was so accomplished, so generous, scch a mensch.  Above all, he was a loving husband and father, a true friend.  Please accept our deepest sympathy.
Howard and Rena Mirkin

Dear Mady, Elizabeth, and Dan,
Phyllis and I were out of the country when Bruce passed away and we regret not being able to visit or attend his funeral in person, but we were able to attend his very eloquent funeral online. He was a very special man and friend to me ever since I came to HSDM in 1974. Bruce was a good storyteller. I'll always remember one of his favorites was telling when he, Lenny Shulman, and I took the Staple Implant course together in Detroit - our flight home was delayed, and the airline gave us a free meal in a private executive dining room, and we missed our flight home. I will always be indebted for his help to become one of the original Branemark centers by assigning Charlie Bertolami to us when I was developing the Implant Department. More recently, Bruce supported my efforts to develop a program to raise oral health to the highest rungs of the healthcare ladder. Bruce was a fair, farsighted, unusual man who left a void in the annals of HSDM that will be slow to fill.
In Sympathy,
Paul and Phyllis Schnitman

Dear Mady, Dan and Elizabeth. This picture was taken when Bruce and I were in the clinic reminiscing in early December of this year. Barbara and I were so sad to hear of the passing of Bruce. Friends for so long become family as our relationships grow with time. Bruce and I had a special relationship as only a chief resident can have with his intern. I am sure Mady remembers all the late -night phone calls from me to Bruce when I was his intern. Years later when Bruce and I were doing our final general surgery rotation (Cardiac Surgery), my father came to visit us in the Cardiac Surgery resident's room. We were talking and he asked what Bruce and I were doing next year. When we told him where our next jobs were and our salaries, he was not impressed by the salaries and wanted to know if we at least had good contracts in writing. Of course, we had no contracts. That resulted in a strong lecture from my dad and his advice to rectify the situation. As our roles changed and our relationship matured, Bruce recruited me to return to MGH when he became  Dean at HSDM. There was resistance from Barbara and the kids who loved San Francisco, but I could not resist the invitation from my friend and former chief resident. I enjoyed my working relationship with Bruce over the years, and especially our friendship, and the times our families got together.  I am sure that the three of you will very much find comfort in his memory once the acute pain of his death passes. With our thoughts and love, Barbara and Lenny Kaban

My condolences to Dr. Donoff’s wife and family. He was both my skilled oral surgeon and respected colleague when I was an Associate Dean at the Medical School.
With sympathy 
Terri Orr

Dear Mrs. Donoff and family, I just got a phone call from another MGH friend to tell me of Dr.  Donoffs passing. Please accept my sincere condolences. I worked in OMFS for 8 years and truly respected and liked him , his sense of humor and his kindness. My prayers are with you at this sad time. - Emma Vozzella

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dean Donoff.
 
Bruce recruited me to HSDM, and from the very beginning he was a generous mentor and steadfast supporter. He opened doors for me, encouraged my development, and exemplified what it means to be a researcher, educator, and leader.
 
I share the admiration for his vision of integrating oral health and medicine and for the way he elevated HSDM on the national and international stage. His influence will continue to shape our work and our profession for many years to come.
 
I extend my heartfelt condolences to Mady and the entire Donoff family. I join the HSDM community and friends in mourning his passing and honoring his remarkable legacy. 

Yingzi Yang

Dear Maddie and Family

Zhanna and I are devastated at the passing of Bruce. He was a remarkable person in so many ways, as a surgeon, dentist, dean, but most of all, a mensch is the true sense of the word.  He was always in demand but never too busy or distracted to provide the very professional and personal advice,  always tolerant, always pleasant, always with a smile. Bruce will be greatly missed by us and a great many others.

Harvey and Zhanna

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Dr. Bruce Donoff

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