Anthony A. Gianelly, 1936-2009

Abstract

Dr Anthony A. Gianelly, an internationally recognized professor of orthodontics, died of a heart attack on May 28 at age 72 years. He is survived by his wife, Ernestine (Painter); son, Todd; daughter, Lisa, and her husband, Jeff Levinson; and grandsons, William and Matthew Levinson. His brother was the late Dr Ralph Gianelly. He lived in Waban, Massachusetts, for 45 years. Dr Gianelly was born in Boston, the younger of 2 brothers, and moved to Medford at age 8. He attended Harvard College and was a leading fullback and linebacker on the varsity football team in the 1954-56 seasons. He was also on the varsity track and rugby teams. He received a DMD degree from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1961 and a certificate of advanced graduate study in orthodontics from Harvard/Forsyth Dental Center in 1963. He earned a PhD degree in biology and biochemistry from Boston University in 1967 and an MD degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1974. Dr Gianelly began his career as a research fellow in orthodontics at Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1963. He was appointed associate professor of orthodontics at Boston University's School of Dental Medicine in 1967 and became a full professor in 1969, a position he held until his death. He served as chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from 1968 to 2003 and returned as chair ad interim in 2007. For over 40 years, Dr Gianelly was a mentor and father figure to his students. Dr Jack Bednar wrote of him not long before his death, “Tony immediately establishes his friendship with his students, and it becomes clear that as a friend he wants you to be proficient, honest, exhibit integrity, and be successful in the field he loves and to which he has dedicated his professional life. As an educator, Tony has the unique ability to analyze why a student has a problem understanding a concept, and he then sets out to simplify it in such a way that it is clear and easily comprehensible to the student.” Throughout his career, Dr Gianelly lectured around the world. Adept at languages, he picked up Italian early in his career to free his seminars in Italy from translation. His fluency in Italian led to a special relationship with Italian colleagues, who were among his closest friends. He received many prestigious awards during his career, including the 2009 Louise Ada Jarabak Memorial International Teachers and Research Award. Boston University awarded him the Spencer N. Frankl Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1999. The same year, the Italian Society of Orthodontists gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite his many achievements, friends describe him as self-effacing and never wanting to bring attention to himself. He was an understanding and devoted husband and father. He delighted in his 2 grandsons and took great joy in playing football, baseball, and pool with them and taking them to games at Fenway Park. He was a lifelong fan of Boston sports teams. Dr Gianelly held many nonacademic appointments throughout his career, including advisor to the Massachusetts Medicaid Program, research council member for the Northeast Society of Orthodontists, Orthodontic Educational Development Committee member and Council on Education member for the AAO, and Education Liaison to the AJO-DO. He was an editorial reviewer for the AJO-DO and the Angle Orthodontist. He coauthored 90 journal articles between 1965 and 2007, and authored or coauthored 3 books. He was a member of the AAO, the American Dental Association, Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, and the Charles H. Tweed Foundation for Orthodontic Research.