Q&A with Dick Speers 7T5

By Rachel Boutet

Interview with Dick Speers, 7T5, who is planning the 45th+2 reunion in May for the class of 1975. 

What made you get involved in planning reunion?
The reunions are usually run by the class president but he is busy planning another event. Given my experience planning large productions like air shows, I thought, “Surely, I can plan a dinner for 120 people”. So I started planning the dinner and unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we’ve had to cancel twice. We’re hopeful this one will happen in May of 2022. I have become very good at planning… not so good at actually delivering a meal. Stay tuned.

What are you most looking forward to about reunion?
It’s been 50 years since we walked through the doors of the Faculty together. We all came in knowing nothing and shared this common experience of dental school. As I’ve been reaching out to classmates about the reunion, it’s sparked some really great conversations. What I’m most looking forward to is having more wonderful conversations – especially with those I didn’t get to know as well during school and hear what people have done with their careers and life since graduation. Classes were divided by alphabet so we mostly knew those whose names were close to our own alphabetically. I was Class Santa Claus for four years which helped break down barriers in getting to know everyone. Of course, that role resulted in bruised thighs from all the staff and students having a visit on Santa’s knee, but the socializing was worth it.

What is your most fond memory of your time at the Faculty?
We had some of the best professors with a wide variety of experiences. I learned a lot from them. In the late 1960s, Murray Hunt scoured the international scene and brought in very capable and creative people from Richard Ten Cate, George Zarb, Dennis Smith, and Tony Melcher to name a few. They changed the course from that of a technical course to one of diagnostics and creativity.  

What is your advice for current students and new alumni? 
For better or for worse, you’re shoulder to shoulder with a lot of motivated people. You will go through common hardships and victories as students. After you graduate, it can be easy to become busy and not see the unique people you spent all of this time with. My advice is to stay in touch and make an effort to keep those connections for the rest of your life. Your classmates become your colleagues and those bonds will enrich your career and your life. I am grateful for these people I call my friends and the Faculty that brought us together. Reconnecting has been a privilege.

Photo: Dick Speers