Like Father, Like Son

A second-generation Dentistry grad honours his family by giving back

When Gerry Sugiyama 8T2 first spent time in the simulation lab at the Faculty of Dentistry, he was just five years old.

His dad, George Sugiyama 6T4, was a mature student completing his DDS, and would take his son to 124 Edward St. on weekends.

Gerry came back to Dentistry and that same lab 14 years after his dad finished his degree. “By the time I went, some of his classmates had returned to the Faculty as clinical instructors. They would look at my name tag and say, ‘Do you have a brother?’”

He recalls learning in the sim lab and also making many friends at Dentistry. (It’s also where he met his wife, Darlene Postello 8T2, Dip Pedo 8T5; they began dating in third year and now live in Nanaimo.)

Gerry has been honouring those life-changing experiences with a series of donations to the Faculty and to U of T — he also completed his undergraduate degree and a diploma in business administration at the University.

Dentistry’s newly opened pre-clinical simulation lab offers alumni and friends the opportunity to name one of the student learning stations. Gerry has named two: one in his name and one for George, who passed away in 2022.  These gifts of $20,000 per station have been directed to the renovation project and allowed Gerry to create a family legacy at the Faculty.

As well, Gerry donated to U of T to have four inscribed granite pavers installed in King’s College Circle – part of the University’s Landmark Project – to honour himself, his wife, his dad and his brother, who completed his engineering degree at U of T.

“I give to say, ‘Thanks for the memories.’ I also feel hum-bled by the achievements of the people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made at the Faculty.”

Dentistry offered Gerry a meaningful and flexible career, he says. “When I talk to younger people, I say one of the biggest appeals of dentistry is that you are in control. You can decide how much you want to work, and you can work anywhere you want.”

He did just that. Early in their careers, after hospital residencies and, for her, further study in pediatrics, he and Darlene moved to B.C., where Gerry was born, and where his parents had returned to in the late ’70s.

The couple ran a practice together in Nanaimo, with Darlene working in hospitals and outpatient specialty clinics as well. Gerry also served as a part-time clinical supervisor in the hygiene program at Vancouver Island University.

“I didn’t think I wanted to work with my dad, but I did end up associating with him as he eased into retirement,” says Gerry. That meant a long commute a few days a week into Vancouver, but he loved seeing George at work, and how much his patients respected and trusted him.

Darlene retired from their shared practice first and Gerry followed a few years later — that was seven years ago. They have one daughter, two granddaughters and many dogs, and stay busy playing golf and tennis, cycling and doing dog agility training. They’re appreciative of the life their careers in dentistry gave them, with Darlene donating to causes she feels passionate about.

Gerry has focused more on giving to U of T to commemorate his family and how much the University impacted his life. “U of T and the Faculty — sometimes it was hard, but that’s also what made it special. Because I can, I am happy to give back.”

Top photo: Gerry and George Sugiyama (Courtesy of Gerry Sugiyama)