60 years later: an interview with alum Kerry Mathers

By Rachel Boutet

For his 80th birthday, Kerry Mathers 6T1 got a tattoo on his left shoulder. Little did he know, the photo would spark a connection that would inspire him to embark on a research project of his own.

Mathers’ ‘RCDC’ (Royal Canadian Dental Corps) tattoo was featured in the RCDC Association Newsletter. After entering the pre-dental year at U of T in 1955, Mathers enrolled in the Regular Officers Training Plan in 1957. He graduated as a Captain in 1961 and served in the RCDC for three years in Ottawa after graduating from the Faculty of Dentistry, and got the tattoo in honour of his uncle Lieutenant Colonel Jack Armstrong 3T1. Gary Comeau, saw the photo in the newsletter with the caption about Armstrong and knew it was the man that had taken his father, Jacque Comeau, under his wing. 

Armstrong had brought Comeau to Toronto and helped him earn his certificate as a dental technician in 1950. Mathers said it was this connection that inspired him to do research into the class of 3T1.

“My uncle Jack had a big influence on me becoming a dentist,” said Mathers. “After Gary reached out to me, I became curious to find out what the rest of the class of 3T1 had been up to.”

As Mathers began to research the class of 3T1, he found several connections with his own class of 6T1. Many members of the class of 3T1 became professors for the class of 6T1, including Robert Diprose 3T1, Robert Twible 3T1, Sandy MacGregor 3T1, and Hugh Box 3T1 (creator of the “Box PeriodontalPak”). Many 3T1 and 6T1 graduates also served in the war including Gordon Leggett 3T1, whose sons also graduated from U of T – George Leggett 6T0 and Bill Leggett 6T3. Mathers also notes Jimmy Kickham, who was not only his dentist in Kitchener but also a 3T1 graduate and one of the people who influenced him to have a career in dentistry, along with Stauffer Shantz 3T1.

“It’s a wonderful profession to be involved in and the dividends to me are endless.”

Both classes would have celebrated milestone reunions, 60 and 90 years respectively. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions, the reunions did not take place, though the University hosted a virtual Chancellor’s ceremony.  

Although he’s disappointed they couldn’t have an in-person reunion, Mathers reflected on his time at the Faculty. He fondly remembers his extracurricular activities, specifically playing football for the Faculty, and donating blood with classmate Mike Lococo from Niagara Falls. But one of the most important parts of his time at the Faculty was the formation of “The Original Six”, composed of Mathers from Kitchener, and D.W. Beaton 6T0, Peter Dean 6T0, Ian Knowles 6T0, George Leggett 6T0, and John Houston 6T1, all from Toronto, who met during their pre-dental year in 1955. The six classmates built a strong friendship at U of T and still get together every year.

Mathers loved his time at the Faculty and his career as a dentist – his hope is that current students are as successful and happy in their chosen profession as he was. He shares his view that life is for laughing, loving and learning, not for worrying, whining and working. 

“I still bump into people on the street that ask if I’m Dr. Mathers and say they are children who I’ve treated and their parents 40 to 50 years ago,” says Mathers. “It’s a wonderful profession to be involved in and the dividends to me are endless.”
 

Photo: Kerry Mathers holding his graduation picture (provided by Kerry Mathers)