Meenaghan, Gross Honored By UB Dental Alumni Association

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- University at Buffalo dental alumni Michael A. Meenaghan and Alan J. Gross recently were honored by the University at Buffalo Dental Alumni Association during the 21st annual Greater Niagara Frontier Dental Meeting.

The Honor Award was presented posthumously to Meenaghan, UB professor emeritus of oral diagnostic sciences, for his untiring and continued endeavors to promote the growth, development and success of the school.

Gross, UB clinical associate professor of restorative dentistry and director of faculty development for the dental school, received the Humanitarian Award for his commitment to dentistry and concern for others, and for distinguishing himself as a leader in the community.

Meenaghan, who lived in Williamsville, died last month after a lengthy battle with cancer.

A respected educator who supervised post-graduate, medical and dental students, he promoted UB exchange programs with more than 10 foreign dental schools.

He was recognized widely for his research on the design of dental implants and the biocompatibility of various materials with oral tissue, on techniques to "superclean" various implants used in the human body and on long-term effects of implantation of umbilical cord vein grafts.

Meenaghan earned a dental degree in 1967 and a doctoral degree in anatomical sciences in 1971, both from UB.

He retired two years ago as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, 338th General Hospital based in Niagara Falls.

A Buffalo resident who practiced in the city for more than 40 years, Gross is a 1952 graduate of the School of Dental Medicine. He later returned to UB to earn a master's degree in oral sciences in 1983 and a doctoral degree in educational psychology in 1996.

Gross was one of the founders and a director of the Skylon International Marathon. He also has served on the ski patrol and as a certified ski instructor at Glenwood Acres.

In addition, he has long been active in community theater and other community organizations, including the Jewish Community Center.