A Heartfelt Farewell to a Cherished Colleague

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM) mourns the sudden loss of Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry Howard Ensel at the age of 78. Ensel will be fondly remembered for his dedication to the school and passion for teaching.

“It’s just such a loss here,” said Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry Eileen R. Hoskin. “He was everywhere; he helped everyone with everything.”

Ensel obtained his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in 1969. His dental journey began at New York University, where he obtained his dental degree. Then, he did his residency at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, NY, and went into private practice until 2010. In 2013, he joined RSDM’s Restorative Dentistry Department, where he became a beloved faculty member for 12 years.  

Ensel worked in every corner of the school, from the pre-clinic to clinic to closed rotations, where students sharpen their skills. He also helped with the mock boards. “He just became such an important part of the activities of the Restorative Department,” said Associate Professor of Oral Biology Kenneth Markowitz. He and Ensel would often meet up for breakfast as both arrived at school early in the morning. Markowitz fondly recounted a memory of Ensel arriving “only 20 minutes early” due to bad weather one day. “He was very flustered because usually he was here very early.” Ensel would attend his lecture and give him feedback. “His advice was always good, and I always listened to what he had to say. He was a great guy too, very friendly.”

Hoskin echoed similar sentiments. “He was somebody who listened to everybody really well and didn’t spend as much time talking about him himself,” she said and added: “He just helped everybody with everything.” He often was the first to be in the pre-clinic. He was an astute reader of all of the department schedules and was able to detect problems at a glance. Though computer-savvy, he always carried printed schedules, puffing up his white coat’s pocket. “If you said to him so what about this Tuesday at three o ‘clock, he would pull out these big papers, all from his pocket; that was his computer.” He also always had his dental explorer in his front pocket. “He had to take it out to show you how things were, which was so cute. He was so invested in making sure that students understood dentistry and that they were going to turn out to be the best dentists that he possibly hoped.”

Ensel would always recount his day to his wife, Gerrie Ensel. “When he came home from school, he would share with me how the day went and how grateful he was for the staff; he enjoyed his students so much,” said his wife.

He is survived by his wife and three children: Raigen, Douglas, and Gregory. “Even after 50 years of marriage, he would still greet me at the door every day when I came home.” Ensel loved camping, boating, hiking, and dancing. “Even in the middle of dinner, if a song came on, he would take me away and dance,” she said. “He loved life in all dimensions.”