Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2021 - 42

People in Orthodontics
In Memoriam
Dr. Lee Robert Boese Sr., January 10,
1939-February 5, 2021
Lee Robert Boese passed away peacefully on
February 5, 2021. Lee was a remarkable and impressive
person; he was an extremely talented orthodontist,
a superb speaker, and a distinguished
clinical researcher while at the same time being a
very approachable gentleman. Lee always made
time to speak and engage with everyone he met.
He expressed his thoughts, ideas, and opinions in
a very clear and concise manner, and his questions
and comments were always insightful.
Lee was born, raised, and educated in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. During high school, he had
part-time jobs cleaning dental offices where he
had the opportunity to speak to various dentists
about dentistry as a career. The comments were
encouraging, so in 1957, he entered the predental
program at Marquette University. He was later
accepted to the School of Dentistry of Marquette
University. Upon graduation from dental school,
he received the Alpha Omega Scholarship award
for the highest grade point average in his dental
class. In addition, he was inducted into the
Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor
Society and the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma
Nu. Psi Omega was his social outlet with friends
and classmates from around the campus.
While at Marquette, he met a young co-ed,
Sandee Simonick. Lee completed hims final year
in dental school in June 1963 but also began a
new journey with Sandee. That month was a busy
month; in addition to graduating from dental
school, Lee and Sandee married, honeymooned in
Bermuda, and then moved to Washington, DC.
Lee had enlisted in the U.S. Air Force prior to graduation,
where he was offered a rotating internship
at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington,
DC. As an Air Force captain, he was transferred
to Castle Air Force Base in Merced, California, for
two years, as the periodontist at the base. After
his three-year military obligation, the Air Force
presented Captain Boese with the Commendation
Medal for meritorious service. While in the
military, Lee gained experience in all aspects of
dental specialties, and together with his natural
aptitude to excel, that experience was the foundation
for his many illustrious contributions to
our orthodontic profession.
Lee chose to specialize in orthodontics and was
accepted in 1966 into the prestigious orthodontic
program at the University of Washington in
Seattle. In 1968, he received a Master of Science
degree in orthodontics. Lee's clinical research in
the area of long-term posttreatment stability now
spans a period of more than 40 years. His research
and treatment protocols are taught in orthodontic
programs throughout the United States.
Lee's classic papers on posttreatment stability
procedures (20 years after braces with no fixed
lower retention) led to his recognition as an
outstanding clinician and international lecturer
throughout the United States, Canada, Central
and South America, and Europe. His clinical research
articles, audio lectures, and videos are still
available for students and professionals.
In addition to being a premier orthodontist,
Lee also generously volunteered in professional
organizations. Lee held numerous elected offices
and committee assignments. He was the general
chair for the American Association of Orthodontists'
Annual Meeting in San Diego in 1999. In the
Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, he served
as president and general chair of the Annual
Conference in San Francisco (1993) as well as chair
42
PCSO Bulletin Summer 2021
Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Summer 2021

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