Dennis Joel Massler, MD

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Dennis was the son of Harry and Lillian (Hurowitz) Massler. He grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Livingston High School in 1963. His lifelong pursuit of knowledge and helping others led him to earn his Doctor of Medicine in 1973 from the College of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School. He completed his internship and residency at Metropolitan Hospital in New York City.

Dennis served as a Clinical Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology at UMDNJ, where he held numerous Director and Co-Director roles, taught courses, and organized symposiums on Human Sexuality. He was a passionate educator and mentor, known for pushing intellectual boundaries and challenging conventional thinking with empathy and insight.

A lifelong learner and dedicated practitioner, Dennis held memberships in numerous professional societies, including the American Fertility Society, the American Psychiatric Association (Fellow), the Silverberg Society, and was a Charter Member of the Eastern Academy for Sex Therapy. He contributed to a wide range of publications, and for many years maintained private practices in East Orange, South Orange, and Boonton Township, NJ. His work, focused on communication and relationships, was more than a profession. It was his true passion. As he often said, “I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I did.”

While deeply committed to his professional life, Dennis cherished his personal life just as fiercely. He adored his wife, family, friends, and beloved pets. He found joy in nature, music, food, and meaningful conversation. Summers were marked by his enjoyment of homegrown tomatoes, long hours by the ocean, and moments on the deck watching wildlife. An audiophile with eclectic musical tastes, a connoisseur of cigars and single malt scotch in earlier years, and a voracious reader from childhood, Dennis had a brilliant, insatiable mind, and an unmatched ability to connect with others on nearly any topic.

Dennis was known for his unflinching honesty, emotional depth, and unique sense of humor. He loved deeply, pushed limits, and confronted life head-on. A man of principle and compassion, he often said, “I will not defeat myself,” and, “I take me wherever I go.” He had an extraordinary ability to recognize and respond to the pain of others, having known his own struggles, and he worked tirelessly to guide others through theirs.

To know Dennis was to know someone who would walk beside you, never letting you feel alone. Though the loss is immeasurable, the lessons and love he shared remain with all who knew him.

Dennis was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Lillian Massler.

Dennis is survived by his devoted wife, Alexandra (Marvon) Massler; his sons, Dr. Joshua Massler (wife Kelly Massler), and Dr. Evan Lenkowsky; his brothers, Dr. Martin Massler (wife Joan Emerizy Massler) and their daughter Jessica Massler (husband Jeff Frankel); and David Massler (wife Kathy Massler) and their daughters, Emily and Sara; his brother- and sister-in-law, Michael and Jennifer Marvon; and his cherished grandchildren: Noah, Miles, and Leo Massler; Solomon and Susannah Lenkowsky; and nephew, Carter Marvon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

• Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry, 513 Birch Street, Boonton, NJ, 07005

• Montville Animal Shelter, 7 Church Lane, Montville, NJ, 07045

“Life is an apple.” If you know, you know. 😉

A Celebration of Life for Doctor Massler will be held Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Quinn Hopping Funeral Home, 145 East Mount Pleasant Ave, Livingston, NJ 07039.