Honoring their father

Family members of Samuel A. Caccamise (DDS '26) have gathered together to honor their father by giving a significant gift to name an operatory after him.

“Our father, Dr. Samuel A. Caccamise was affectionately known by his patients as Dr. “Sam” and demonstrated the highest levels of ethical values and humanity,” remembers daughter Doreen Conners.

“During the Great Depression with a growing family of his own, he felt a moral obligation to provide dental services for his patients even though he knew many lacked the ability to pay him. In later years, he recalled that “he had a waiting room full of patients and not a nickel in the crowd.” Also, he provided free dental services monthly to the Trappist Monks at their monastery in Piffard, New York for 25 years.”

The family’s aim in choosing to name an operatory in their father’s name is to honor the memory of his dedication, compassion and giving for over 40 years of dentistry in the Rochester community. Dr. Caccamise helped thousands of people and dozens of civic, charitable and religious organizations.

His four surviving children are June Baker, Gwen Conners, David Caccamise and Doreen Conners. Carrying on the family dental tradition is nephew Daniel Caccamise, ’60 and grandson, Mark Conners, ’89, both graduates of UB School of Dental Medicine.