Dr. John O. Grippo

Dr. John O. Grippo, 91, of Longmeadow passed away peacefully at home on October 5, 2019; surrounded by his loving family. Born in North Walpole, NH, on March 18, 1928 to the late Belinda (Capron) Grippo and Gerard Grippo.  John leaves his loving wife of 60 years Constance M. (Corr) Grippo, three devoted children; Mary Jo Prater, her husband Robert S. Prater, and children, Alison, Rob and Emily of St Simons Island, GA; John C. Grippo, his wife, Violetta, and children Matthew, James and Michael of Longmeadow; and Steven E. Grippo, his wife Janel Cunneen and son Cuyler of Duxbury, MA. Dr. Grippo was predeceased by his daughter Lori Ann, his brothers Dr. Enrico and Joseph Grippo; and is survived by his sister Rose Werden and her husband Herbert. Dr. Grippo graduated from St. Bonaventure University, and Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery, then served for two years as a Lieutenant in the US Navy. In 1955, Dr. Grippo settled in Longmeadow where he practiced general dentistry for 45 years. He had a great passion for dentistry, research and the dental health and welfare of each and every patient. The mission of his practice was to foster preventive dentistry, he went on to become one of the founders of the Massachusetts Society of Preventive Dentistry. Dr. Grippo was awarded Fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry and in the America College of Dentists. He was an adjunct professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at WNE and an advisor at the Columbia University School of Dental Medicine.  Dr. Grippo did research at Harvard University on pre contact human jaws and teeth, at the University of Dakar, Senegal, Africa on patients with leprosy as well as studies on the teeth of hibernating bears at the UMass. He has lectured both nationally and internationally on the dynamics of occlusion. At the age 89, he coauthored a landmark dental textbook on Noncarious Cervical Lesions and Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity and published many additional dental papers. He also introduced the terms “abfraction” and “biocorrosion” to the science of biomedical engineering. John was a member of the Longmeadow Historical Society and had a thirst for Civil War and World War II history.  John was an active member of St. Mary’s Parish where he served as a Eucharistic Minister for 25 years and was an avid tennis player his entire life. Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday October 11th , 2019 from 4-7 PM at the Forastiere Smith Family Funeral Home, 220 N Main St. in East Longmeadow. Ceremonies begin at 9:00AM on Saturday October 12th, 2019 from the funeral home.   A Celebration of Life Mass will be at St. Mary’s Church, 519 Longmeadow St. at 10 AM ; followed by burial at the Longmeadow Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church Sound System Fund , 519 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, MA 01106. www.forastiere.com