Heber Graver, D’56, Gr’72, a former associate professor of restorative dentistry and histology-embryology at Penn Dental Medicine, died on April 29. He was 92. 

Dr. Graver completed his undergraduate education at Muhlenberg College, graduating summa cum laude in 1952. He then earned his doctorate of dental surgery from Penn’s School of Dental Medicine in 1956 and received the prestigious Alpha Omega Memorial Award for the graduate with the highest class average. From 1956 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Navy, then left and ran a private dental practice in Topton, Pennsylvania from 1958 to 1968. He then continued his studies and returned to academia, earning a PhD from Penn in 1972 in developmental biology. While earning his PhD, he taught courses, and after he graduated, he joined the Penn Dental Medicine faculty full-time as an assistant professor of restorative dentistry and histology and embryology. He rose to a full professor in 1979. At Penn, he taught courses in histology, embryology, preclinical restorative dentistry, and clinical dentistry, and served as director of operative dentistry. 

As a researcher and mentor, Dr. Graver was influential in his field, training over 3,000 dentists. He earned Penn Dental Medicine’s Earle Banks Hoyt Award (1976) for demonstrating unusual promise, excellence and ability in teaching; the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching (1979); the Class of 1985 Teaching Award; the Penn Dental Medicine Senior Class Outstanding Teaching Award (1998); and the Penn Dental Medicine Alumni Award of Merit (2009). He was a member of several professional societies, including the American Dental Association, the Academy of Operative Dentistry, the American Academy of Dental Research,  and the Academy of Stomatology of Philadelphia.

Dr. Graver was a longtime member of Wentz’s United Church of Christ of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and in his retirement, he enjoyed reading, photography, gardening, and traveling. 

Dr. Graver is survived by his wife, Lois Elaine Graver; his sons, Jeffrey (Bill) and Jay (Susan); and his four grandchildren, Hunter (Monica), Elizabeth, Tyler, and Ethan. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Ann. A funeral service was held on May 3. Contributions in his memory may be made to Wentz’s United Church of Christ, 3246 W. Skippack Pike, Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446. 

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