Gary David Hack

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Gary David Hack, DDS, who passed away on August 10, 2024 at the age of 71. Gary was a beloved and dedicated husband, son, brother, brother-in-law, father, father-in-law, uncle, and cat grandfather, and a respected professional in the field of dental education. He will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his profound intellectual curiosity, his unwavering dedication to his family and career, and his strength in the face of great adversity.

From the time Gary was a child, he was always extremely inquisitive about the world and eager to learn new things. He loved taking classes on a variety of subjects, such as meditation, fire walking, Go, and kendo. An avid reader, Gary delved into subjects as varied as plant consciousness, astral projection, and the history of Christianity. In addition to these topics, Gary had many other interests and hobbies, including sailing (as the Captain), caving, weightlifting, playing the cello, “tooth worms”, mahjong, and chess.

Dr. Hack was an Associate Professor, innovative dental educator, and accomplished researcher at the University of Maryland Dental School for nearly 40 years. During his highly accomplished career, he taught preclinical courses, acted as the Director of Simulation, and developed a Diabetes Workshop. Dr. Hack was deeply dedicated to introducing his students to cutting edge dental technologies. For example, he was instrumental in integrating Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) into the dental school's curriculum. He was beloved by his students and won multiple teaching awards during his extensive career in education. On the research side, Dr. Hack had numerous patents, presentations at academic conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and, impressively, two anatomical discoveries.

Gary was the beloved son of the late Joseph Hack and Bernice (Lovett) Hack; cherished brother of the late Sandra (Hack) Hoffman and brother-in-law of the late Dr. Kenneth Hoffman; caring husband of 45 years to Leslie (DiCarlo) Hack; loving father to son Shawn Hack, daughter Dr. Laura Hack, and son-in-law Dr. Mason Bretan; cherished brother-in-law to Diane Reimschussel and her husband Richard, Patricia Barnhart and her husband Steve, Edward DiCarlo, the late Emilie DiCarlo, and Dr. Cheryl DiCarlo and her husband Dr. Patrick Roach; and dedicated uncle to Kevin Hoffman and Lara Hoffman, Andrew Reimschussel, Brigette Reimschussel, David Reimschussel, and Dr. James DiCarlo.

Gary's legacy will continue through the countless lives he touched and the lasting impact of his work in dental education. Gary's unique perspective, devotion, and sense of humor enriched the lives of his family and friends. His family remembers that Gary had an incredible ability to find humor in any situation. “Even during his battle with cancer, he kept us laughing. It was his superpower.”

Following his passing, Gary was cryopreserved in accordance with his wishes, a decision that beautifully reflects his lifelong curiosity, deep commitment to scientific exploration, and his unique approach to life.

A celebration of Gary's life will be held in September, with details to follow. We invite family, friends, colleagues, and students whose lives were touched by Gary to join us in honoring his memory.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Gary's memory to The Leiomyosarcoma Support & Direct Research Foundation (LMSDR) at https://www.lmsdr.org/donate. This gesture will support research into the rare and aggressive cancer that Gary faced with characteristic strength and dignity.

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