 |
Darrel Moreland, D.D.S., left, shown here with his wife, Marilyn, right, and former Nebraska football coach and current athletic director Tom Osborne, second from right, and his wife, Nancy Osborne. Dr. Moreland — a strong supporter of the UNMC College of Dentistry and the University of Nebraska as a whole — died Sunday following an apparent heart attack. |
The memorial service will take place at the Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler West Center Chapel, 78th and W. Center Road in Omaha.
Dr. Moreland, 79, was a leading orthodontist in Omaha for many years. A World War II Navy veteran, he attended Colorado College before going to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1953 to earn his bachelor’s degree in pre-dentistry. He then moved to the UNMC College of Dentistry where he earned his dental degree in 1956 and his master’s degree in orthodontics in 1958. He practiced orthodontics for more than 40 years before retiring in 2000.
A generous supporter of the University of Nebraska and the UNMC College of Dentistry, Dr. Moreland was a member of the Dean’s Club for the College of Dentistry, the UNMC Chancellor’s Club with Distinction, and the University of Nebraska President’s Club. He and his wife, Marilyn, established the “Dr. and Mrs. Darrel G. Moreland Scholarship” for the College of Dentistry. He also was a member of the UNMC Board of Counselors from 2000-2008.
|
|
“He was a dear friend, a person who made a very positive influence on our college, and a colleague who we will greatly miss,” said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry. “The Morelands’ gift is endowed at the University of Nebraska Foundation, so it will exist in perpetuity and allows us to spend the interest generated each year. The scholarship agreement was written to allow us to use it for student recruitment.
“Darrel even helped us with recruitment of some outstanding students. I just spoke with him a couple of weeks ago, as he called from Florida about one of our applicants whom he held in high regard.”
The Morelands were good friends of UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., and his wife, Beverly.
“Darrel was an exceedingly easy person to talk with … he was a great friend,” Dr. Maurer said. “I enjoyed our relationship. Beverly and I would go to their home every year for Memorial Day and Labor Day parties.
“He was very high on the College of Dentistry and was high on John Reinhardt. Darrel and Marilyn joined us for dinner when we were recruiting John (for dean). It was a great evening and was made even better when John wound up accepting the position.”
Beverly Maurer echoed her husband’s sentiments. “Darrel was a close personal friend and we really feel the loss,” she said. “Friends would tell us that ‘he put smiles’ on children all over Nebraska.”
A native of Simla, Colo., Moreland was a past president of the Happy Hollow Country Club where he was an avid golfer. He was loyal fan of Nebraska football and supported the University of Nebraska athletic program.
“Darrel was an extremely gracious and giving person,” said Susan Norby, director of development for the University of Nebraska Foundation in Lincoln. “He and Marilyn shared a true spirit of giving. They wanted to create opportunities for students at the College of Dentistry. They gave generously and without hesitation. He was the nicest, most easy-going guy. A gentle, positive person with a great sense of humor … he was never flustered and was always gracious and friendly to everyone. It’s a real loss.”
“He enjoyed treating his many loyal patients with the highest quality of orthodontic health care to give them a beautiful smile,” said Darrel Moreland, Jr., one of the Morelands’ five children. “He was at the paramount of his profession. He had thousands of patients. It is amazing how many people knew my father. I’ve met people all over the world who knew him.”
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; five children, Darrel Moreland, Jr. and wife Susan, Omaha; Pamela McClung and husband Bob, Linden, Va.; Linda Weinmaster and husband Kerry, Lawrence, Kan.; Shari Lawlor and husband John, Valley, Neb.; and Brian Moreland and wife Abbey, Adams, Neb.; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.