Everett Brady Hancock

Everett Brady Hancock, 84, of Happy Valley, Oregon, passed away on October 11, 2025.

Born in Salem, Illinois, on February 27, 1941, he was the son of Constance Mae Hancock (née Brady), a teacher, and Everett Oral Hancock, a dentist. Growing up in a household that valued both education and healthcare, young E. Brady was instilled early with a dedication to learning and service that would define his remarkable life.

Early Life and Education

Dr. Hancock completed his undergraduate education at the University of Illinois in 1962, where he was a proud member of Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) Fraternity, embodying the fraternity's ideal of combining in equal proportions the Gentleman, the Scholar, and the Jolly Good Fellow. Following in his father's footsteps, he pursued dentistry, receiving his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in 1967 from the University of Illinois, School of Dentistry, and completed his post-doctoral Fellowship in Periodontics at the Naval Dental Clinic in Long Beach California in 1972. He later earned his Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) in 1974 from Indiana University School of Dentistry.

In 1966, Dr. Hancock married, Caryl Rae Ramstadt. They divorced in 2017 after five decades of marriage. In 2020, he found love again and married, Mary Atwood Hetrick.

Military Service

Dr. Hancock embarked on a distinguished twenty-year career in the United States Navy immediately following dental school, serving from 1967 to 1987 and ultimately achieving the rank of Captain. His naval journey began at the Naval Dental Center from 1967-1969 followed by sea duty aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) from 1969 to 1971. He then attended the Naval Dental School, Long Beach from 1971 to 1972, and served on the USS Sperry (AS-12), a submarine tender, from 1974 to 1976.

While serving aboard the USS Iwo Jima in April 1970, Dr. Hancock participated in one of the most dramatic moments in space history. The Iwo Jima served as the prime recovery vessel for the Apollo 13 mission after an oxygen tank explosion forced the crew to abort their lunar landing. On April 17, 1970, astronauts James Lovell, Fred Haise, and John Swigert splashed down in the South Pacific, and Dr. Hancock was part of the medical team that conducted the post-flight examination of the astronauts following their harrowing return to Earth. For his exemplary service during this period, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal in 1971.

Following his sea duty, Dr. Hancock's career trajectory reflected his growing expertise in dental education and research. His commitment to advancing naval dentistry led him to the Navy Dental Research Institute at Great Lakes from 1976 to 1980, where he contributed to important research initiatives.

From 1980 to 1984, Dr. Hancock served with the Navy Graduate Dental School, combining his clinical expertise with educational leadership. His final years of active duty, from 1984 to 1987, were spent at the Navy Medical Research and Development Command in Bethesda, where he directed cutting-edge dental research programs. Throughout his naval career, he maintained collaborative relationships with the National Institutes of Health, bridging military and civilian medical research.

In recognition of his two decades of exceptional service, dedication, and contributions to naval dentistry, Dr. Hancock was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the U.S. Navy upon his retirement in 1987. Following his retirement from active duty, he continued to serve veterans through his work at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, demonstrating his lifelong commitment to those who served.

Academic Career and Legacy

Dr. Hancock joined the IU Periodontics Program in 1972, training under the renowned, Dr. Timothy O'Leary, and completed his periodontics training in 1974.

In 1987, Dr. Hancock was recruited back to Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) full-time as Department Chair of Periodontics. He subsequently added Director of the Graduate Program to his credentials in 1989, serving in both capacities until 1993, when the department was expanded to become the Department of Periodontics and Allied Dental Programs. His leadership extended beyond his department when he served as Interim Director of Continuing Education from 2004 to 2005, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing dental education at every level. Dr. E. Brady Hancock served as a highly regarded IU Periodontology department chair from 1987 to 2007.

Throughout his twenty-year tenure leading the department, Dr. Hancock's excellence in education and leadership was recognized with numerous prestigious honors. In 1991, he was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national honorary dental fraternity that recognizes outstanding scholarship and exemplary traits of character. His dedication to students and the profession earned him the Outstanding Faculty Award from the IUSD Alumni Association in 2006. In 2011 he received one of the profession's highest honors: the Lifetime Achievement in Education Award from the American Academy of Periodontology.

During his tenure as chairperson, Dr. Hancock also served as a Director of the American Board of Periodontology and elevated the national stature of IUSD's Periodontics program. He was deeply committed to professional service, actively participating in the Indiana Society of Periodontists, Indianapolis District Dental Society, American Academy of Periodontology, American Board of Periodontology, Mid-West Society of Periodontology, and the American Dental Association. He served on multiple committees during his time at IUSD, always working to advance the field and support the next generation of periodontists.

Dr. Hancock's influence extended far beyond Indiana. In addition to his tenure at IUSD, he held many prestigious visiting professorships in Japan and Thailand, and guest lectured all over the world, sharing his expertise and passion for periodontics with international audiences. His scholarly contributions were prolific, with more than 70 published articles that he wrote and contributed to throughout his career, resulting in over 1,400 citations, with expertise in oral diseases, oral pathology, periodontics, and implant dentistry.

When Dr. Hancock was nearing retirement, colleagues gathered to establish an honor in his name. Dr. Hancock requested that his mentor's name, Dr. Timothy O'Leary, also be attached to the Professorship, creating the O'Leary/Hancock Professorship in Periodontics. His legacy at IUSD was further honored with the creation of The E. Brady Hancock Resident Award.

Prior to his retirement from IUSD, Dr. Hancock joined Dr. R. Stephen Lehman in private practice in Carmel, Indiana. Even after retiring from his full-time academic position, his dedication to education never wavered—he continued to volunteer as faculty at IUSD until 2015, mentoring students and residents who would carry forward his commitment to excellence. He remained active in the practice until 2017, the same year he moved to Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Hancock's 55 years of service to the dental profession were recognized by the Indianapolis District Dental Society in 2022, a testament to his enduring commitment to advancing periodontics and improving patient care throughout his remarkable career.

Passions and Pursuits

Beyond his distinguished professional accomplishments, Dr. Hancock lived a life rich with varied passions and artistic pursuits. A consummate Renaissance man, he approached his hobbies with the same intensity and excellence that characterized his professional career.

His culinary adventures included an ongoing quest to craft what he firmly believed was the most perfect barbecue sauce in the history of the world—a claim his family and friends found difficult to dispute. He was equally formidable at the card table, playing cutthroat cribbage and bridge with a competitive spirit that occasionally created social complications, particularly during his early Navy years when he committed the unfortunate faux pas of thoroughly defeating the admiral’s wife at bridge games.

Music coursed through Dr. Hancock's life as deeply as his love of science. A learned musician, he played trombone and piano with considerable skill and possessed a rich singing voice. His collection of classical music was monumental, and his encyclopedic knowledge of the genre was legendary among friends and family. He could identify a piece, recall the orchestra, conductor, soloist, and date of performance after hearing just a few bars.

Dr. Hancock was a generous philanthropist throughout his lifetime, supporting numerous organizations including theaters, symphonies, veterans' causes, and heart and cancer associations. His commitment to giving extended to his beloved IUSD, where he raised funds to redesign and outfit the graduate clinic. Upon his retirement, demonstrating characteristic humility and devotion to his mentor, he established the O'Leary-Hancock Endowed Chair of Periodontics at IUSD to honor Dr. Timothy O'Leary.

A Life Through the Lens

Perhaps Dr. Hancock's most consuming passion was photography, an art form he pursued with unwavering dedication from his earliest Navy days through the final years of his life. His love of nature and gift for serendipitous composition were evident in every frame he captured. Colleagues at IUSD joked that teaching was getting in the way of his real job: photography.

In practically every house he lived in, Dr. Hancock maintained a darkroom, transforming spare rooms into sanctuaries of chemical baths and enlargers. When film processing and print developing became obsolete, he repurposed these spaces to house an impressive array of printers, slide scanners, rolls of photographic printing paper, and the widest variety of equipment and accoutrements imaginable.

He took every opportunity to photograph, whether documenting his daughters' extracurricular activities, capturing the majesty of mountain vistas, or finding extraordinary beauty in a simple walk through the woods behind his home. A serious competitor, he entered exhibition after exhibition, winning numerous Best of Show awards, ribbons, and accolades throughout his decades-long pursuit of photographic excellence.

After retiring from the Navy, Dr. Hancock's life became beautifully intertwined with his art: he photographed wherever he traveled, and traveled specifically to photograph. He created award-winning images on all seven continents, with multiple expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic circles to capture the ethereal dance of the Northern Lights and the endearing waddle of penguin colonies.

Photography was never a solitary pursuit for Dr. Hancock. He loved to share his work and his knowledge. He frequently hosted slideshow evenings at home after returning from travels, welcoming the comments and critiques of guests with genuine interest. He joined photography clubs, hosted meetings and competitions, and adjudicated exhibitions with the discerning eye of both artist and educator. He toured with groups of fellow photographers around the world, and—true to his calling as an educator—delighted in passing on his knowledge, offering guidance and insight into composition, processing, and equipment use to anyone eager to learn.

One of his favorite annual traditions was the careful selection of images for his holiday greeting card—his personal "Best of the Best" showcase that friends and family anticipated each year.

Through his lens, Dr. Hancock taught the world to see beauty in the ordinary and majesty in the grand—a fitting metaphor for a life lived with attention to detail, appreciation for excellence, and generosity of spirit. His photographs, like his teaching and his service, will continue to inspire long after the shutter has closed for the final time.

Survivors

Dr. Hancock is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; daughters, Heidi Hancock (Steve Shannon) and Janna Bednorz (Mark); cherished grandchild, Finn Bednorz; former wife, Caryl Rae Hancock; sister, Cindy Knox (Roger); cousins, Ronald Walker and Joseph Hancock; nieces, Heather Mathers and Cara Knox Gutzmer; nephew, Andrew Knox; grand-nieces, Teaghan Knox, Jasmine Mathers, Ainslie Knox, Skye Knox, and Ashlynn Knox Gutzmer; and grand-nephew, Duncan Knox Gutzmer.

Service Information

A Committal Service with Full Military Honors will be 11:30 a.m.,Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon; with Reverend Roger Knox officiating. You may also see it via livestream at: https://vimeo.com/event/5514022/701f0a2fe5. Following the service, family and friends are invited to gather for a luncheon at The Forum at Town Center 8709 SE Causey Ave, Happy Valley, Oregon 97086; for directions please call 503-653-1500.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions in tribute to Dr. Everett Brady Hancock's legacy be made to the O'Leary/Hancock Professorship in Periodontics at Indiana University School of Dentistry. Gifts may be made online at: https://go.iu.edu/8vZD or may be sent to: IU School of Dentistry, Development Office, 1121 W. Michigan St., DS104, Indianapolis, IN 46202.