Class of 2019 Spirit Awards: Allan J. Warnick, D.D.S. ’64, forensic dentist

Each year, University of Detroit Mercy chooses an alumnus of each of its Colleges or Schools to honor as someone who has excelled in his or her profession, demonstrated outstanding leadership in work and devoted himself or herself in service to the larger community. Award recipients reflect the University’s mission of excellence and service and bring pride to their alma mater.

This year the University will celebrate eight honorees — Detroit Mercy Law selected a husband-wife team — at a special ceremony Friday, April 12, in the Ballroom in the Student Union. We will introduce the award winners here until the event. If you are interested in attending the event, you can purchase tickets here.

Allan J. Warnick was first exposed to the field of forensic dentistry when serving in the Dental Corps of the U.S. Air Force after earning his D.D.S., helping identify flight crews in airplane crashes.

He opened a private practice in Livonia in 1966, which he ran until he retired 40 years later while he earned a certificate in forensic odontology from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C. He worked with the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office for many years before becoming the office’s chief dental consultant.

He joined the Medical Examiner’s office and for nearly 20 years was chief dental consultant, performing more than 1,000 identifications. In 1986, he established the Michigan Dental Association’s Forensic Dental Identification Team, which he led until 2015. He helped establish similar teams across the country and led a dental team that worked to identify those killed in the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

He is a retired diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology, a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and coordinated the undergraduate and graduate forensic dental programs at University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Dentistry.

This year’s other honorees are:

Kathleen Reehil ’67, Retired, Workplace Strategist, Herman Miller — School of Architecture

Janet Robinson ’69, Provost Emerita, Lourdes College — College of Health Professions

Richard Kunnath ’71, President, Charles Pankow Foundation — College of Engineering & Science

Arlyce Seibert ’71, Retired Director of Schools, Cranbrook Schools — College of Liberal Arts & Education

John Lewis, ’74, Retired, Vice Chairman, Comerica, Inc. — College of Business Administration

Ralph McDowell ’86, Member, Bodman PLC, and Nancy Glen ’86, Director, Customer Happiness, ardentCause L3C — School of Law