Alumni engagement and philanthropy

Dr Andrew Dixon, MDS BDS BSc, 1949 (died 28 September 2017, aged 92)

Extract from the obituary in the Belfast Telegraph, a full version of which is available here.

Born in Belfast in 1925, his passion for the academic life saw him rise to the position of Dean of the School of Dentistry at the University of Los Angeles.

A former pupil of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, he studied at Queen's University, where he met his future wife Mary Elizabeth. The couple set up their own dentistry practice in Bangor, then they moved to England, before settling in the States in the 1960s.

The couple, who were married for 68 years, had three daughters - Mindy, Alison and Jane (now deceased), four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mindy Sweat, who lives in Georgia, told the Belfast Telegraph her father always considered Northern Ireland his home.

"He was a true academic, but also had a very creative side and was very particular," she said.

"He had a tremendous sense of humour and was a great care-giver for my younger sister Alison, who has Down's syndrome," she explained.

In his retirement years Dr Dixon qualified as a master gardener, and enjoyed painting watercolours of Co Down and Co Donegal landscapes and also remained involved in the church and organisations for mental welfare.

Back to list

 

Top of Page