Robert E. Cassidy, DMD, Captain USN retired

Robert E. Cassidy, DMD, Captain USN retired, 87 years old, of Annapolis, MD passed peacefully with family by his side on October 31, 2022. Alzheimers diminished many of his gifts, knowledge, and skills however he never lost his quick wit, kind demeanor and sense of gratitude.

He was born in Winthrop, MA where he met and married his high school sweetheart Paula Fay. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage traveling the World, raising three children, serving the U.S. Navy for 34 years, cheering for the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and the OSU Buckeyes, and playing a lot of golf together. Dr. Cassidy was a lifelong learner earning his Bachelor of Science from the College of Holy Cross, a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Tufts University, a Master of Science from the Ohio State University, and a Doctor of Education from NOVA University. He received his dental specialty training with a Fellowship in Endodontics from the Navy and a Certificate of Endodontics from Ohio State. He was also a researcher and educator. His Fellowships, publications, and work on editorial boards for numerous professional journals made a significant impact upon his dental specialty, patient care, and dental education.

Serving with both the Navy and Marine Corps during his 34-year career, he had overseas assignments in Cuba, Spain, and Okinawa, as well as being assigned aboard ships homeported in Spain, South Carolina, California and Japan. He was in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis where his role changed rom dentist to front line protection patrol of the Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay. During Vietnam he spent more than 11 months deployed on the USS Midway where he was delivered by helicopter to provide medical care to wounded soldiers. His duties in the service also included being the only Navy Dental Corp Captain to be the Commanding Officer of 3 different commands during a career and he served as Dean of the Navy Graduate Dental School for 4 years. While serving at the Pentagon as the Assistant to the Surgeon General he developed Standards of Dental Care which continues to guide the care provided to Navy and Marine Corp personnel around the World. His final assignment before his retirement was as the Commanding Officer of the National Naval Dental Center in Bethesda, MD where he was responsible for the oral health care of President and Mrs. George H. Bush at the White House. His dedication to the Navy inspired his two sons and a grandson to follow in his footsteps with all three graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.

During his Navy career Captain Cassidy was awarded 17 medals including the Legion of Merit, the highest peacetime award. He was also awarded 4 Meritorious Service Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. In addition, he was presented with many civilian awards with his most treasured being selected in 1978 from over 500,000 living alumni as the Ohio State University Citizen of the Year.

Following his retirement from the Navy he practiced his dental specialty with Cape Cod Endodontics in Sandwich and Plymouth, MA, where he and Paula lived in Scituate, MA for 15 years before moving to The Villages, FL where he was an active member of the Clown Alley 179, Red Sox Nation, and the Irish Club.

He is survived by his wife, Paula (Fay); two sons, Commander Douglas Cassidy, USN retired (Jamy) of Winston-Salem NC, and Captain Shawn Cassidy USNR retired (Elizabeth) of Arnold, MD and his daughter Carlene Cassidy (Laura) of Annapolis, MD; and four grandchildren, Erin Bourne, Connor Cassidy, Katie Byrd, and Christopher Cassidy, and two great-granddaughters Addie and Jane.

To honor Bob please consider volunteering your time, practicing random acts of kindness, sharing a box of chocolates, and donating to an organization serving military veterans and their families.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2022 12:45 pm at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel (please arrive at Chapel at 12 noon) 204 Lee Avenue Fort Myer, Virginia 22211. Interment with full military honors will follow at Arlington National Cemetery.