Dr. John T. Lindquist

Dr. John T. Lindquist, D.D.S., M.S., beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, internationally renowned orthodontist, inventor, patent holder, entrepreneur, devoted friend, and amateur photographer died on October 27th, 2018.

He was born March 17, 1925, in the Swedish community of Rockford, Illinois, the youngest son of Carl and Ruth Peterson Lindquist. Sadly his mother died when he was two months old. His parents, adopted mother Lillian Tinberg Lindquist, brothers, Kenneth, Dwight and Franklin, and sister Ruth Volle, predeceased him. He is survived by sister Jane (Sherwood) Ebey.

During World War II he was inducted in the US Navy and sent to Boston Navy Yard and Tufts University for training. While there he met and married Evelyn Mae Adams on August 19, 1944, in Bennington, Vermont. They were partners and soul mates for 73 years until her death on June 28, 2017.

In 1944 the Navy sent him to the Indiana University School of Dentistry where he was a member of the class of 1947. He continued postgraduate studies in the Orthodontics Department and was awarded a Master of Science degree. In 1953, he served as a full-time instructor in the Department. He proudly and honorably served in the US Navy and the Indiana National Guard for many years, reaching the rank of Major.

As a practicing orthodontist, he treated hundreds of patients in Indianapolis and later Zionsville, improving their smiles and lives. Each patient was special to him and he felt blessed to practice such a positive, rewarding profession. He retired from private practice in 2002.

Dr. Lindquist was a leader in the dental profession in Indiana, serving as President of the Indianapolis Dental Society and a Trustee of the Indiana Dental Association.

He worked to advance his profession, and played an important role in the history and evolution of edgewise orthodontics. By 1956 he was authoring journal articles and soon lecturing before the Edward H, Angle Society on an original indirect band technique. He taught at graduate orthodontic programs at universities around the county, wrote scientific articles for journals and books, participated in roundtables with colleagues and mentored many orthodontists from around the world who visited his office to observe his practices and techniques. He continued to innovate and improve the practice of orthodontics throughout his life. Even after he retired he was awarded a US patent for one of his orthodontic inventions.

He became a luminary among his peers. He served as President of the American Association of Orthodontics in 1987-1988, and a Director of the American Board of Orthodontics from 1976-1979. He was a leader, board member and/or president of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, Charles H. Tweed Foundation and the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, which awarded him its Distinguished Service Award. Many international orthodontic groups recognized his contributions to the profession and asked him to address their members, including to the French, Japanese. British and Brazilian societies.

He was a founding shareholder of Orthodontic Supply Corporation and Research, Inc. and worked with the company for many years on new product development and processes.

John loved photography, a passion that he passed down to his son and namesake grandson. He enjoyed traveling the world with his wife, boating and summer weekends with family and friends at Lake Wawassee, and winter vacations in Delray Beach, Florida.

He is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Roddenberry (Stephen) of Coral Gables, Florida, his son, John II (Veronika) of London, England, seven grandchildren, Thomas (Yana), David and Samuel Roddenberry, John III, Paul, and James Lindquist, and Julia Ritchie (Nicholas) and three great grandchildren.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 3 at Flanner Buchanan – Oaklawn Memorial Gardens (Conner Suite), 9700 Allisonville Road.  In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, or the American Association of Orthodontics Foundation. Online condolences may be shared by visiting www.flannerbuchanan.com.