Deaths: George Kottemann

George Kottemann

George J. Kottemann, 83, an active alumnus and donor of the College of Dentistry whose contributions funded scholarships, clinic renovations and a gallery of dental artifacts, died June 10.

“Dr. George Kottemann was among the College of Dentistry’s most active, dedicated, and supportive alumni,” said Mark Valentino, assistant vice chancellor for development.

Kottemann earned his DDS in 1955 and a specialty in orthodontics 1959.

He was president of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, chair of the U of I Foundation Presidents Council and a member of the UIC Dental Alumni Association board of directors. He received the alumni association’s Loyalty and Distinguished Service Awards, the William E. Winter Award for Outstanding Advocate Leadership and the Distinguished Dental Alumnus Award. He helped create one of the college’s first endowed scholarship funds.

He and his wife, Norma, provided the funds to establish the Kottemann Gallery of Dentistry, an exhibit at the college that features faculty and student accomplishment, dental equipment and instruments.

A diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, he was speaker of the House of Delegates of the American Association of Orthodontists.

As a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, part of the U.S. Public Health Service’s National Disaster Medical System, he aided in the identification of victims of the September, 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks.

He practiced orthodontics in Peoria until his retirement several years ago.