September 8, 2011
It is with great sadness and a real sense of shock that I write to inform you of the passing of Dr. Sigmund Socransky. Sig died peacefully in his sleep on August 27, 2011. It was Sig’s wish that there be no public service.
Sig was a true giant in the field of oral microbiology and periodontology for more than a half century. He was a pioneer who helped to launch the field of modern periodontal disease research, through his many contributions to basic, translational and clinical knowledge. These discoveries, reported in more than 325 publications, include the identification of many of the causative agents of human periodontal diseases; characterization of disease subtypesmicrobial complexes/ecology of the human oral cavity; new methods for identifying and quantifying oral bacteria; restatement of Koch’s postulates pertinent to periodontitis; smoking and other risk factors for periodontitis; novel anti-microbial therapies; and comprehensive analyses of the effectiveness of treatments for periodontitis, to list just a few.
After receiving his DDS degree from the University of Toronto in 1957, and post-graduate training in periodontology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and microbiology at Forsyth, Sig joined Forsyth’s staff in 1961. During his tenure he served for many years as Head of the Department of Periodontology and as Principal Investigator of the highly successful NIDCR-funded Forsyth Center for Clinical Research in Periodontal Diseases from 1976-1993. Sig was the recipient of many well deserved honors including: IADR Basic Research in Oral Science Award, IADR Basic Research in Periodontology Award, Orban Award (AAP),William J. Gies Award (AAP),Norton Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research (ADA),Yngve Ericcson Award for Preventive Dentistry (Karolinska Institute, Sweden), and the AADR’s Distinguished Scientist Award. In 2009, he was recognized at the annual AADR meeting with “A Tribute to a Pioneer in Periodontal Microbiology.” Although not able to attend, Sig provided his thoughts on his research career in a moving video shown at the meeting (‘Random Recollections of a Journeyman Microbiologist’; http://vimeo.com/4298961). Sig’s approach to his life’s work can perhaps best be described by a statement he made when he received the Distinguished Scientist Award: “We went further because there is such a long way to go.” These are truly words to live by as we continue our quest to eradicate oral diseases.
As important as his intellectual contributions, Sig was a wonderful colleague, an inspirational mentor to several generations of young scientists, and a friend to all of us at Forsyth as well as to co-workers throughout the country and around the globe. He was always available to sit down and talk about a scientific problem, troubleshoot an experiment, or simply provide his considerable historical perspective on an idea. It feels like only yesterday that Sig interviewed me for my first academic job here at Forsyth, and I can still recall our conversations in detail. He was the kind of person who conveyed positivity, humor and benevolence, someone you wanted to work for and be associated with. And as legendary as Sig was in the oral health research world, his reputation transcended that world and helped to make Forsyth known far and wide as a great institution. Sig Socransky was indeed synonymous with Forsyth.
Despite his ‘retirement’ several years ago, Sig continued to regularly come to his office and actively work as he had throughout his career. Last week it was business as usual, analyzing the mountains of information in his databases, writing manuscripts, and assisting young investigators with grant applications. This was his love, his life, and it is fitting that he did what he wanted to do until the end.
Although plans are still at the formative stage, Forsyth will honor Sig’s memory and celebrate his career with a scientific Symposium next spring. Those of you who have ideas about how best to honor Sig and organize this event, please contact me. This past year we also began a campaign to establish an endowed chair at Forsyth in Sig’s name. We hope to finalize these plans and announce the first recipient next year.
I am honored to have known Sig and will miss seeing him in the halls of Forsyth.
Sincerely,
