ALTHOUGH it was not unexpected, his family, colleagues and many friends were deeply saddened to hear that Kevin had returned to St Vincent's Private Hospital, where he died in tranquillity on January 13th this year.
He had been in failing health for quite a few months, and it was obvious that the gastropancreatic carcinoma which had been resected some four years ago had made its inevitable comeback.
Death was no stranger, for about the same time as his own operation, his identical twin brother, Raymond, had developed and did not long survive the same distressing condition.
Alter the operation and convalescence, and with his intuitive knowledge of the long term prognosis, in his own meticulous and characteristically methodical way, he arranged all that was humanly possible for the health and comfort of his wife, Antonia, who had sadly been afflicted with a rapidly developing Alzheimer condition.
Kevin Healy was born in Drogheda on March 31st, 1920, and educated at Castleknock, from which he entered the Schools of Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, graduating LDS, RCSI in 1942; he was awarded silver medals in dental anatomy and histology. He also demonstrated in anatomy and physiology and was awarded the Dental Hospital prizes in pathology and dental surgery.
He then decided to study medicine and qualified from the Schools of Surgery of The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1945, gaining special certificates of merit in applied physiology, and prizes in materia medical and forensic medicine.
Postgraduate study was undertaken at the Dental School Ann Arbor, Michigan.
As visiting surgeon to the Dental Hospital he became involved in teaching and was lecturer and examiner in dental surgery and pathology at the School of Dental Surgery, TCD; subsequent to which he became lecturer and examiner in pharmacology. Trinity College Dublin awarded him M.A. (lure Officii) Dubl., in 1956.
He was awarded a Council of Europe medical fellowship to study education in the dental schools of the United Kingdom and Europe, and was a member of both the fluoridation consultative and poisons councils of the Department of Health.
One of his special interests was in medical conditions affecting the face, mouth, jaw and surrounding areas, especially when these lesions were part of a general clinical problem.
He was a dedicated teacher, his insatiable quest for knowledge being complemented by a desire to share and pass on whatever he had learned. He could, however become impatient if the recipient, of whatever age or status, did not seem to readily assimilate what seemed to be, at the time, perfectly obvious and logical!
He was actively involved in the earlier years of dental post graduate education and from being a foundation fellow of the faculty of dentistry, RCSI, he proceeded to board membership in 1965, becoming honorary treasurer in 1976.
He was subsequently elected Dean of Faculty, a position he occupied from 1981 until 1984.
Earlier in his career he had published a number of articles on subjects ranging from gingival anatomy to palatal tumours to fractures of the jaw, in which he had a very special interest.
Despite obvious professional and family commitments he found time to be a single handicap golfer, dedicated humanistic scholar, historian, archaeological traveller, and, above all, motor sport enthusiast and restorer extraordinaire of vintage and classic motor cars.
He acted as "stand in" medical officer at motor racing events at Enniskerry, Mondello Park and Kirkistown, and was well rated as an amateur driver of the vintage Aston Martin "Ulster" (which he had discovered and rebuilt), winning many trophies throughout the racing seasons.
He was a well held amateur restorer and with infinite patience, many consultations and much cheerful help from a small group of close, similarly dedicated friends, completed many daunting projects over the years. Specialist help was always a "must" and he was a member of the Alvis, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bristol, Jaguar Lagonda, and MG owners' clubs as the restorations proceeded from time to time. It is unnecessary to add that during these long hours of tedious rebuilding there developed some very long standing, special and close friendships.
Those of us who were privileged to work with and to know him extended our sympathy to his family before and after the simple, moving service in the overflowing Church of Tullow Parish, Carrickmines, Co Dublin.
He is missed. Requiescat in pace.