Former ADA vice president dies at 87

Dr. Chauncey Cross, who served as vice president of the American Dental Association from 1997-98, died Sept. 5, 2019, on his 87th birthday.

Dr. Cross, who owned a dental practice in Springfield, Illinois, was highly involved in organized dentistry.

Leader: Dr. Chauncey Cross served as vice president of the American Dental Association from 1997-98.

In addition to his executive role within the ADA, he served as chairman and member of the ADA Council on Government Affairs and delegate and alternate delegate in the ADA House of Delegates. He also was a delegate and alternate delegate with the Illinois State Dental Society, where his involvement with many committees included serving as chairman of the Legislation Committee for more than 40 years. Dr. Cross also held every officer position in the G.V. Black District Dental Society in central Illinois.

The Illinois State Dental Society honored Dr. Cross with the Distinguished Member Award in 2003 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. The society’s political action committee, DENT-IL-PAC, now presents the Chauncey Cross Award each year to three DENT-IL-PAC directors who have the highest percentage of PAC, Governor’s Club and President’s Club members within their component or branch.

Dr. Cross was a fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and Pierre Fauchard Academy.

He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and earned his dental degree from Loyola University in Chicago.

Dr. Cross is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia; sons Roland R. Cross, Ph.D., and Dr. J. David Cross; and seven grandchildren, Samuel, Sarah, Graham, Isabel, Agnes, Ezekiel and Jude. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Roland R. Cross and Isabel Hunter Cross; brothers, Dr. Roland R. Cross Jr., Dr. James H. Cross and Gilbert Cross; and son Dr. Brian Chauncey Cross.