Norton Fishman

Norton Fishman, a pioneer in Geriatric Dentistry, was born in Dorchester during the depression, in 1928. He attended public schools in Dorchester, until he enrolled in Boston Latin School in grade 7, graduating in 1945.

He attended Boston University, majoring in chemistry and pre-medical studies, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1948, at the age of 20. Too young to be accepted to medical school, he went to Northeastern University for two years, as a teaching fellow in chemistry, and earned a Master’s Degree in 1950. He was accepted at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and, after two years at the Medical School and two years at the Dental School, he graduated in 1954 with a D.M.D. and a prestigious silver medal.

Immediately after graduation, Uncle Sam called and Dr. Fishman spent two years during the Korean War at Sampson Air Force Base on Lake Seneca, in upstate New York. During that time he had the good fortune to meet his wife to-be, Carol, and they married in June, 1957. They bought a house in Norwood and converted it into a home-office.

Dr. Fishman taught part-time at Harvard Dental School as an Associate Clinical Professor and established his private practice in Norwood, Massachusetts, thereby allowing him to teach half time, see private patients, and be more available to family over the years.

Dr. Fishman was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Dentistry (FACD).

As one of the early founders of the American Society of Geriatric Dentistry, and a pioneer in the field, Dr. Fishman developed and directed dental clinics at both Hebrew Senior Life and New England Sinai Hospital. He organized the first international conference on geriatric dentistry and the subsequent publication of the Proceedings of the Conference on Dentistry and the Geriatric Patient.

He was an avid gardener, birder, world traveler, and amateur orchidist. He was a recreational skier and tennis player who had, more recently, taken up snow shoeing and bridge. He was always a voracious reader, but his greatest love was his family.

Dr. Fishman leaves behind his loving wife, Carol (Lowenberg) Fishman, as well as his children, Scott Fishman, Robin Borgestedt, and Lauren Petrie, as well as his most cherished grandchildren, Alexander, Sarena, Noa, Hanna, Jonah, Eliya, Solomon, and Bobby, and his great-grandchild, Elizabeth. He was preceded in death by his life-long friend and brother, Harrison Fishman, and his beloved son, Jeffrey Neil Fishman.

A graveside service at Sharon Memorial Park on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 1:45 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jeffrey Neil Fishman Endowment Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital