1920
Dr.
2018
Dr. Kielich
October 19, 1920 — February 8, 2018
Raymond Bernard Kielich, age 97, passed away peacefully in Bryn Mawr, PA, on Thursday, February 8, 2018. Son of Charlotte (nee Flicinski) and Bruno Kielich, he was born in Buffalo, NY, on October 19, 1920. He was brother to Bruno Kielich (deceased) and Eleanor Ayres (deceased).
Raymond attended Canisius College in Buffalo, which he left a year early to enroll in dental school at the University of Buffalo, so that he could join the Navy as a dentist during World War II, where he achieved the rank of Lt. JG. Dr. Kielich served proudly in the Army and the Marines as well as the Navy during his military service. He married Kathie Serbach ("That's the girl I'm going to marry!") in 1948, and was widowed in 1995.
He is survived his by daughters: Andrea M. Kielich, MD; Christina Marie Kielich; and Paula M. Kielich.
Board Certified in Pedodontics (pediatric dentistry), Ray established a successful practice in Buffalo specializing in treating difficult cases. Simultaneously, he served as Director of Dental Surgery at Buffalo's Children's Hospital, where he pioneered in-hospital dentistry for children with disabilities and outpatient surgery for the hospital. Ray capped his dental career as Director of Dental Training at Children's Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, DC.
Ray was an inventor and innovator from an early age. An early enthusiast of Speedgraphic cameras, he mastered black and white photography, particularly photos of his family.Taking apart his beloved wife Kathie's very first steam iron, he used the parts to invent one of the earliest water spray dental drills, which is now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
In retirement, he volunteered for his daughter Paula's pet-assisted therapy organization, Pals For Life in Wayne, PA, including speaking at many events on PFL's behalf.
Ray was known for his wonderful sense of humor and quick wit. In the Navy, he and his pals told a luckless enlisted man in the dental chair that he was fortunate to be worked the only dentist in the world who was blind! Ray did the entire procedure pretending that he was blind. His assistant was in on it and said "No, doctor, not that tooth!" The poor guy ran out of the room so fast at the end, they never got a chance to tell him it was a practical joke.
Ray was always and foremost a family man, husband and father. His family fondly remembers camping in New York's many state parks; fishing at dawn in cold New York mornings; and trips to Chautauqua, and two World's Fairs, and later in life, trips to Scandinavia, England and Italy.
Ray will be missed by many. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 17th at the Radnor Hotel. Services are at 11:00 AM, followed by luncheon until 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Pals For Life, Attn: Raymond Kielich Legacy Fund, 939 Radnor Road, Wayne, PA 19087.
Online memorials may be left at www.donohuefuneralhome.com
Raymond attended Canisius College in Buffalo, which he left a year early to enroll in dental school at the University of Buffalo, so that he could join the Navy as a dentist during World War II, where he achieved the rank of Lt. JG. Dr. Kielich served proudly in the Army and the Marines as well as the Navy during his military service. He married Kathie Serbach ("That's the girl I'm going to marry!") in 1948, and was widowed in 1995.
He is survived his by daughters: Andrea M. Kielich, MD; Christina Marie Kielich; and Paula M. Kielich.
Board Certified in Pedodontics (pediatric dentistry), Ray established a successful practice in Buffalo specializing in treating difficult cases. Simultaneously, he served as Director of Dental Surgery at Buffalo's Children's Hospital, where he pioneered in-hospital dentistry for children with disabilities and outpatient surgery for the hospital. Ray capped his dental career as Director of Dental Training at Children's Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, DC.
Ray was an inventor and innovator from an early age. An early enthusiast of Speedgraphic cameras, he mastered black and white photography, particularly photos of his family.Taking apart his beloved wife Kathie's very first steam iron, he used the parts to invent one of the earliest water spray dental drills, which is now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
In retirement, he volunteered for his daughter Paula's pet-assisted therapy organization, Pals For Life in Wayne, PA, including speaking at many events on PFL's behalf.
Ray was known for his wonderful sense of humor and quick wit. In the Navy, he and his pals told a luckless enlisted man in the dental chair that he was fortunate to be worked the only dentist in the world who was blind! Ray did the entire procedure pretending that he was blind. His assistant was in on it and said "No, doctor, not that tooth!" The poor guy ran out of the room so fast at the end, they never got a chance to tell him it was a practical joke.
Ray was always and foremost a family man, husband and father. His family fondly remembers camping in New York's many state parks; fishing at dawn in cold New York mornings; and trips to Chautauqua, and two World's Fairs, and later in life, trips to Scandinavia, England and Italy.
Ray will be missed by many. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 17th at the Radnor Hotel. Services are at 11:00 AM, followed by luncheon until 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Pals For Life, Attn: Raymond Kielich Legacy Fund, 939 Radnor Road, Wayne, PA 19087.
Online memorials may be left at www.donohuefuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dr. Kielich, please visit our flower store.
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