Fall 2006 - College of Dental Medicine - Columbia University

Ronald Odrich ’59, Perio ’63Life Without Missing a BeatGoogle the name of Ronald Odrich and, unless youknow him well, you may find the results confusing.You will find so many references to that name that itmay be hard to decide which one is your target. Ifyou are looking for a New York periodontist, with aPark Avenue office and patents for dental inventions,you will find them all under Odrich. If youwant a jazz clarinetist, who jams, concertizes and hasrecorded with New York’s most celebrated musicians(including his late friend and patient, LeonardBernstein), you will find him under the same name,along with the Odrich in music publishing. Or, youmight want Odrich, the author, cited for his recentlypublished mystery, Perfect Pitch, as well as for a numberof scientific articles.So, who is the real Ronald Odrich? It is no surpriseto most who know him that the same Dr. Odrichembodies all these roles. And, his celebrity is notconfined to the United States; the Italian dentalorganization equivalent to the ADA, named himtheir 2006 “dentist of the year” at a ceremony inNaples, followed by a jazz concert starring Dr.Odrich on clarinet. The honor recognizes Dr.Odrich’s many years of teaching and carrying outclinical research in Italy. Much of the credit goes tohis Neapolitan grandfather, who gave him Italian lessonsdaily, with a report card on the results. Dr.Odrich recalls, “I couldn’t go out to play ball, until Idid my homework.”Family and Columbia have been central to Dr.Odrich’s success as a polymath. Son of a cellist whodoubled on reeds, played with Toscanini and ArtieShaw, and earned multiple college degrees; brotherof a Columbia PhD in Education, pianist, and composer;father of two sons who are Columbia-educatedophthalmologists teaching at Columbia; and ofa daughter who is a Columbia-educated nurse, he ismarried to a graduate of the former ColumbiaDental Hygiene Program. His mother, though not amusician, still has at 102, says Dr. Odrich,“simply thebest ear in the family.”Although his first instrument was cello, at thirteen,young Ron switched to clarinet after hearing“Rhapsody in Blue.” He chose Queens College forhis BA so he could keep playing jazz in New York,then segued to Columbia for his DDS and certificatein Periodontics. A part-time faculty member atCDM (SDOS) for 27 years, Dr. Odrich has fondmemories of Columbia. He practices periodonticsthree days a week and music every day!Ron Odrich seen in two of hismany personas, on campus andon a record cover.20primus2006