Irving (Lawrence) Maislen

Dr. Irving Lawrence Maislen, May 15, 1917 – August 17, 2010 He asked to be remembered as a good father and a good man. He struggled bravely at the beginning of his life and at the end. Born in Hartford to David A. and Esther (Siegel) Maislen, he was orphaned at age 9. He went on to become an honors student at Hartford Public High School and captain of its debating team. He graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and then the Columbia University School of Orthodontia. Enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Force before Pearl Harbor, he was attached to the 57th Fighter Group, serving in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, attaining the rank of major. In Libya, his company created a mobile dental office for him, using a van abandoned by Rommel’s troops. Photos and equipment from this innovation were part of the 57th’s exhibit at the Bradley Air Museum in Windsor Locks. He returned after the war to establish his orthodontic practice in West Hartford, where he fashioned smiles for three generations. He was generous with pro bon services. Active in the Hartford Dental Society, he was the longtime Chairman of the board of trustees of the James & Ella Burr McManus Fund, providing funds for dental education; he was one of the creators of the Smilemobile, which brings dental health guidance to city schools. He was proud that, under his watch, the fund grew substantially, able to provide ever-greater outreach to people in need. He helped design a groundbreaking health insurance program for the Dental Association. He was also proud of his work in the late 1960’s, serving on a committee that united the adult education programs of three area synagogues, enabling them to bring more people together to hear internationally renowned speakers, including Elie Weisel. Irving Maislen leaves his wife, Rhoda (Williams), daughter Andrea, son Alan and daughter-in-law Rita, granddaughter Alexis, and many dear friends, including Camille Wolf, who worked for decades in his practice, and especially Joan Russell, who tended to him devotedly throughout his illness. And the things he believed may not seem so extraordinary: that you should love your work; that life was a search for wisdom; and that you should leave the world a little better than you found it. Services will be private. Please make donations to MichaelJFox.org to help fight Parkinson’s Disease or to any animal welfare organization. Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. To sign the guestbook for Irving, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.