Plan for the Future
~~Dr. George Joseph Muench, age 99, predeceased by his loving wife, passed away at home on November 13, 2014. Born on January 17, 1915 in Newark, NJ, he was the child of George and Mary Muench. He was raised in Newark, NJ and later lived in Maplewood, Short Hills and retired to Normandy Beach in 1983. George and his wife moved to Chatham after Hurricane Sandy.
A graduate of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, Dr. Muench received his pre-dental education at Rutgers University, New Brunswick and graduated from Georgetown University Dental School in 1939. At graduation, he was elected to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon national honorary dental Fraternity.
He opened his office in Newark in September of 1939. In 1942, he received a commission on the U.S. Navy Dental Corps and was called to active duty in 1943. He received three campaign ribbons, in the European Theatre with one star for the invasion of Southern France. He reopened his office in Newark in 1947 and in 1957, moved the practice to Short Hills. He practiced general dentistry and later, orthodontics. He retired in 1983.
Dr. Muench was a life member of the Essex County, NJ State and American Dental Societies. He served on the Executive Board of the Essex County Dental Society for 15 years and was the Dental Staff of Beth Israel Hospital in Newark for three years. In 1975, he was elected to a Fellowship in the American College of Dentists.
Always interested in Dental Education, Dr. Muench attended Post-graduate courses at Kesling-Roche Orthodontic Center in La Porte, IN; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Temple, Pennsylvania; Tufts, New York; and NJ Medical and Dental Schools.
Dr. Muench enjoyed sailing, playing golf and bridge. He was a member of the Maplewood Country Club for 46 years, the Georgetown Alumni Association and the Ocean County Serra Club. He loved his family, playing with his 14 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
Predeceased by his beloved wife of 71 years, Marguerite in August of 2014, and his daughter Marguerite M. Brammer in 2008; Dr. Muench is survived by daughters Judith M. Greene of Bernardsville, and Marianne M. Busby and her husband Dr. Stephen Busby of Short Hills; son George Muench Jr and his wife Debra, of New Providence; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, November 17th at 10:30am at St. Patrick’s church, 85 Washington Ave., Chatham. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. There will be a visitation on Sunday from 5 to 8pm at the Wm. A Bradley & Son, 345 Main St. Chatham.
In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, 520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Newark, NJ 07102.