Per Rygh, 1930-2008
On August 12, 2008 orthodontics lost an outstanding researcher and clinician, Per Rygh, formerly professor at the University of Bergen, Norway.
Per Rygh was born in 1930 in Egersund, a small coastal town outside Stavanger, Norway. He died suddenly at Fano, Denmark.
He graduated from the Dental School in Oslo in 1954 and worked some years as an instructor at the Dental School and as an assistant in the private practice of Dr Kare Reitan practice in Oslo before he became a specialist in orthodontics in 1962. Between 1962-1976 he ran a private orthodontic practice in Stavanger. In 1974 he defended his thesis 'Hyalinization of the periodontal ligament incident to orthodontic treatment' for the degree of doctor of odontology. For this he was honoured with the 'Milo Hellman Research Essay Award for Special merit' of the American Association of Orthodontists. In 1976 he became Professor in orthodontics at the Odontological Faculty, University of Bergen. His research interest was focused on treatment of cleft lip and palate patients and tissue reactions in connection with tooth movements and resulted in numerous publications in internationally well-known scientific journals. He became a leading international authority in the field of tissue reactions in connection with tooth movement and received invitations to give lectures at universities and orthodontic societies worldwide. He also contributed chapters in many international orthodontic textbooks.
For his outstanding contributions in orthodontics he received many awards, such as the Sheldon Friel Memorial Lecture Award at the European Orthodontic Society (EOS) Congress in 1986, the J.A Salzman Memorial Lecture Award at the American Association of Orthodontists meeting in 1995. He received the degree of honorary doctor from the University of Athens, Greece in 1996. He was an honorary member of the orthodontic societies in Colombia, Thailand and Norway. From 1990 to 2000 he was a member of the Council of the EOS and President in 1995 when he arranged a successful congress in Bergen. In 2003 he was made an honorary member of the EOS. He was a member of the World Federation of Orthodontists and belonged to its council as the representative of northern Europe.
He was an outstanding teacher in postgraduate education in orthodontics at the University of Bergen. During his leadership 90 national and international postgraduate students completed their graduate examinations. Many of these graduates now have leading positions in orthodontics. Thus his teaching has influenced the development of orthodontics in Europe, Asia and South America. He held many administrative positions at the University of Bergen and at the orthodontic and dental societies of Norway. Per Rygh was the Norwegian representative of the ERASMUS project of the European Union to harmonize graduate education of orthodontics in Europe. In 1998 he was honoured by the King of Norway with the gold medal for zealous and devoted service.
Per Rygh had time for everyone, from the greatest scientific researcher to the first year dental student or orthodontic resident. He was brotherly, friendly, wise and beloved of the staff and the students at the university. His sense of humour was unique. He had a story for everyone with a glint in his eyes. He laughed with people never at people. His greatest passion however was his beloved family, his wonderful wife, Hanne, whom he married 53 years ago, his three successful children, Tore, Sidsel and Paul, and his five grandchildren.
Many orthodontists worldwide have lost a very good friend and an exceptionally fine person. His loss is deeply felt and we will long keep Per in grateful memory.
Sten Linder-Aronson Stockholm, Sweden