MONICA, D.D.S.
Ronald Anthony Monica died of congestive heart failure Sunday morning, May 6, 2018 at Lakeside Regional Hospital in Covington, LA. He was an Associate Professor of Periodontics at LSU Health Sciences Center Dental School in New Orleans after retiring from 25 years of private practice in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Ron was born in Lutcher, LA on February 25, 1933 to Roy and Mary Tortorich Monica. He graduated from St. Joseph Elementary School in Paulina, Lutcher High School, LSU Baton Rouge, and St. Louis, Missouri School of Dentistry. He practiced general dentistry in Lutcher for several years before completing a Periodontics degree at Loyola School of Dentistry which morphed into LSU Dental School. As a graduate student, he taught both at Loyola and LSU Dental School.
Ron is survived by two daughters from his marriage to Janet Gerstner: Anne Monica Vuxton of Tallahassee, Florida, and Mary Monica Norton of Baton Rouge. Anne’s family: husband Al, daughter Emily and son George. Mary’s family: son Byron, wife Christine and their baby daughter Madelyn. Ron is also survived by his wife of 27 years, Irene Waguespack Taylor Monica and her children: Doriane, husband Stephen Usner and their daughters Kirsten, Molli, Emily and Chloe; and Irene’s son, Matthew Taylor, wife Bridgette and their two sons Vaughn and Benjamin as well as a brother, Mike Monica and wife Argie.
Ron’s devout Catholic faith was formed at St. Joseph Elementary School. At Lutcher Ron took part in all athletics and excelled in football and baseball. He was most proud of being on Lutcher’s 1951 State Baseball Championship team. Anxious to become a dentist, he completed his undergraduate studies at LSU Baton Rouge in three years so he could begin at St. Louis School of Dentistry where he made lifelong friends. In 2005, the American Academy of Periodontics awarded him an OUTSTANDING TEACHER OF THE YEAR award. He is a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and in 2005-2006 served as president of its Louisiana region. He is an active life member of the American Academy of Periodontists, and a life member of both the American College of Dentists as well as the American Dental Association. In 1995 Ron retired from his solo periodontic practice after 25 years, during which he employed eleven staff members in his downtown, Wausau, WI office, and his Eagle River, WI satellite office. From 1978-80 he was president of the Wisconsin Society of Periodontists. He’s also been president of the Central Wisconsin Dental Society; Vice-chairman of Wausau Hospital Staff; president of the Marathon County Dental Society, while serving on numerous other medical and professional committees and boards in central Wisconsin. His civic involvement includes: President of the United Way of Wausau; President of North Central Wisconsin Technical College Foundation in 1981-83; and Chairman of NCWTC’s Advisory Committee on Dental Hygiene. Ron’s work with the Technical College recognized him as Wausau’s outstanding citizen of the year 1980-81. Following retirement, Ron moved to Mandeville, LA where he became active in civic activities, most notably a founding member of the Italian-American Society where he proudly promoted his Italian heritage. He was a member and golfer at Beau Chene Golf and Country Club until hip replacement surgery interfered with his golf swing. In recent years he made daily visits to the Adoration Chapel at Our Lady of the Lake Church. He found great joy in his Monica cousins and their families, as well as his grandchildren and his first great-grandchild, Madelyn Norton.
Family and friends were invited to a visitation at 10:30 a.m. Friday morning, May 11, 2018 with Mass at 12:30 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Covington, LA. Father Ray Hymel was the Mass celebrant. Ron’s pallbearers were: Al and George Vuxton, Byron Norton, Jeffrey Monroe, Nikki Monica and Carl Monica.
Following the Mass, private burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery in Paulina in the Monica family tomb. Honorary pallbearers: Drs. Robert Cosentino, Peter Tomasi, James Magerstro, David Simmons, Byron Hoffman and William Barfield.
Although Ron loved beautiful flowers, his wishes were that his passion for dentistry be honored with donations to the fund he initiated to enhance education of periodontic graduate students at LSU Dental School.
Contributions can be made to: Periodontics Residents Education & Research Fund at the LSUHSC Department of Periodontics, Box 138, 1100 Florida Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119-2799.
ROSE LYNN FUNERAL SERVICES, 1870 Cabanose Ave., Lutcher, LA was in charge of the arrangements. To sign and view the family guestbook, please visit www.roselynnfuneralhome.com