Scott Mark Fertik, 66
Scott Mark Fertik, 66, died Oct. 31 following complications from an abdominal surgery despite his incredible dedication to health, wellness and clean living. Born Dec. 17, 1959, he grew up in Ithaca, New York, where he worked in his family’s pharmacy and grew to love health care. During his childhood, he played several sports, competed in swimming and tennis, skied often at his beloved Greek Peak and played percussion.
Scott attended Hamilton College, where he studied the sciences and enjoyed ceramics, discovering his manual skills and creativity. He did winter terms in Vienna and Israel and was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity. After completing his undergraduate degree, Scott attended the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He did his general practice residency at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1989, he completed his postdoctoral degree in periodontics at Boston University.
Toward the end of the program at BU, Scott met the love of his life, Lisa, on a rooftop overlooking the Charles River. Their common love of skiing and racquet sports brought them to their first date on a tennis court. Before long, they were living together in Foxborough, Massachusetts, while Lisa was working in group ski travel, which afforded them many travel opportunities. Scott joined the oldest periodontal practice in Rhode Island, and they married in 1990 at Roger Williams Park. Their first home together was in Cumberland, where their son, Maxwell, was born. After nine years, the family moved to East Greenwich, and Max attended the Meadowbrook Waldorf School, which Scott was always passionate about.
Throughout his life, Scott never stopped moving. He loved any sport with a racquet, snow sports, cycling, yoga, kayaking, swimming and walking on beaches and in Goddard Park. Outside of work and sports, he was incredibly social. He was a lifelong student of history and could have taught it in another life. He and Lisa traveled the world and took joy in the arts, culture, antiques and nature of everywhere they went. Max joined them on many of their adventures and learned much from them. Lastly, Scott was endlessly curious and cherished the wisdom of birds and trees.
Scott was president of Periodontics Inc. in Providence and Cumberland. He was a dedicated member of the Rhode Island Dental Association and the Providence District Dental Society and often crossed borders for other district societies’ events. He was a delegate at the Rhode Island Dental House of Delegates and took part in countless other related activities. He was a member of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an active board member at Temple Sinai and a member of the Touro Fraternal Association and the East Greenwich Historical Preservation Society. He was also on the committee of the ongoing East Greenwich 350th anniversary celebrations and was looking forward to getting more involved in the East Greenwich Land Trust and several other local causes.
He will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor, optimism, modesty and dedication to his family. He is survived by Lisa, his loving wife of 36 years; his recently married son, Maxwell, and daughter-in-law, Erika, of Bloomington, Indiana; his brother, Greg, and his wife, Anne, of Hendersonville, North Carolina; and several treasured aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the Meadowbrook Waldorf School, the Conservation Law Foundation (Rhode Island chapter), Trinity Repertory Company or the Gamm Theatre in his memory.
published by
