Dr. Jerome S. Engel, age 97 years, of Boynton Beach, FL and Edison, NJ, died on Saturday, November 26, 2016, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Paterson, NJ, July 29, 1919, son of the late Philip and Lena Salzberg Engel, he lived in Edison since 1960, beginning to travel to Florida in the 1980’s and moving there on a full time basis several years ago.

Dr. Engel graduated from Eastside High School in Paterson, NJ and went on to graduate from Heights College of New York University in 1941. He then attended dental school and graduated with honors from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1944. He completed his training in oral surgery at Sydenham Hospital in New York City. 

He started his practice as the first oral surgeon in New Brunswick, NJ in 1948. Between 1953 to 1955 he served as a Captain in the Air Force, stationed in Okinawa. His practice became the Oral Surgery Group, where he remained a partner and continued working until 1990.

Dr. Engel was Chief for over 20 years of the Dental Service at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, where he established a general practice residency from which over 200 dentists have graduated. 

He also served as a Professor of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), now known as Rutgers Dental School.  In addition, he was Director of Continuing Dental Education at UMDNJ until 2004, where he helped countless students and dentists over the years.

Surviving are his cherished and devoted wife of 63 years, Gloria (Gold); three children and their spouses: Marna Solarsh, and her husband, Larry of Tuckahoe, NY, Philip Engel, DMD and his wife, Nina Lehrhaupt, DMD of Warren, NJ and Jane Engel and her husband, George Eckelmann of Delaware Township, NJ; a sister, Bernice Kline of Yardley, PA; a sister and brother-in-law, Charlotte and Herbert Levin of Yardley, PA; eight grandchildren, Hallie and her husband, Jared Malbin, Amanda and her husband, Max Lee, Emily Solarsh, Michael Solarsh, Henry Engel, Isaac Engel, David Eckelmann and Katherine Eckelmann; and two great grandchildren, Maddie and Nate Malbin.

Funeral Services will take place Monday, November 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in Neve Shalom, 250 Grove Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840 under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, 12 Market Street, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663.

Please contact the funeral home at 908-782-3311 for information regarding Shiva.

Everyone is invited to visit Dr. Engel’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to send a public or private message of condolence and to share stories and photographs of his life.

No flowers please. Those wishing to do so may make a memorial contribution in Dr. Engel’s name to Richmond Community Services, designated for the “Shevell House,” 272 North Bedford Road, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 or to the The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, 230 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River, NJ 08882.