THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408160138
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: CLOSE-UP
SOURCE: VICKI LEWIS
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Jack C. Kanter practiced dentistry for more than 50 years in Norfolk before retiring. During those years, he said, he developed mutually endearing and lasting friendships with many of his patients.
`Many have told me that I'm part of their family,'' he said.
He practiced first in the Wainwright Building for 34 years and then at the Circle East Building at Military Circle.
The son of a Russian immigrant turned grocer, Kanter said as a youth he had his sights set on engineering, not dentistry. ``But during the Depression many engineers couldn't get work,'' he said. ``My father suggested dentistry.'' He sent away for a magazine on dental bridges and crowns. ``If I couldn't build big bridges, I'd build little ones,'' he said.
A Maury High School graduate, he attended the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary and the School of Dentistry at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.
Kanter is very close to his family, which includes his wife, Henrietta; his younger brother, Eugene L. Kanter of Virginia Beach, also a retired dentist; and his sister, Maxine Meltzer of Norfolk.
Name: Jack C. Kanter, D.D.S.
Nickname: Jack
What brought you to Norfolk: Born here
Birthplace: Norfolk
Birthdate: Nov. 29, 1916
Occupation: Dentist, retired after 50 years of practice
Marital status: Married to the former Henrietta Salsbury of Richmond for 48 years.
Children: None
Last book read: ``Hunt for Red October'' by Tom Clancy
Favorite movie: ``Gone With the Wind'' and ``Citizen Kane''
Favorite magazine: The Saturday Evening Post - the old version as well as the new one.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? No way! I'm healthy and happy with what and how I am. My life has been interesting and productive. Others would want to trade places with me.
Biggest accomplishment: Developed the first mobile dental trailer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Also helped as part of a team to establish the Speech and Hearing Center at Old Dominion University. Recipient of numerous awards and citations in dentistry. Developed a special silicone material used around the world for maxillofacial prosthetics (the replacement of missing parts of the face and body artificially).
Most embarrassing moment: (Amongst many others!) Invited to dinner to a French home during World War II, I wanted to compliment the rather large hostess on her hair style in French since she spoke no English. Due to my poor knowledge and pronunciation of the language, I used the French word for horses instead of the almost similar sounding one for hair; so that my intended comment ``What beautiful hair!'' was actually ``What beautiful horses!''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My memory that's gotten poor as I have gotten older.
Perfect way to spend the day: Enjoying driving the back roads of Tidewater.
Favorite vacation spot: No special one. My wife and I just enjoy traveling to many beautiful and very interesting places around the world.
Pet peeve: Inefficient government bureaucracy.
First job: Part time selling hats in a Richmond store while attending dental school.
Worst job: Part time selling hats in a Richmond store.
Hobbies: Stamps and repairing small items including watches.
Favorite restaurant: Le Promenade, locally, and the former Chateau Madrid in New York.
What do you like most about Norfolk? Watching the city grow from a sleepy town of the 1920s to a modern metropolitan seaport; and the many friendships that a lifetime of living in this area has generated.
What do you like least about Norfolk? Crime and the slow development of regional cooperation. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
by CNB