Dr. Allan J. Vasko, 63, an Oregon dentist for more than 30 years, died of a stroke Tuesday in Toledo Hospital.
He inspired his son, Derek, to become a dentist. "He was so dedicated to everything - what he could do to help people - I wanted to do that also," said Derek, an associate in the practice the last decade.
Dr. Vasko was a volunteer dentist for the teams at Clay High School when his two sons were students there. His son Matt became a family physician.
"I know my dad had patients he treated for probably 35 years," said Matt, who has a practice in Anna, Ohio. "That was something that drew me to family medicine, because I wanted to establish longtime relationships and get to know kids and parents and grandparents."
Dr. Vasko was born Jan. 5, 1946. He was a graduate of St. Francis de Sales High School and the University of Detroit dental school.
He liked working in his yard and garden. He and his wife, Karen, enjoyed traveling. They went to Hawaii at least 20 times and were to leave today for another visit, his wife said.Surviving are his wife, Karen, whom he married July 31, 1971; sons, Derek and Matthew; parents, Pearl and Joseph Vasko; brother, David Vasko, and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Hoeflinger-Bolander Funeral Home, Oregon, where the body will be after 5 p.m. today. The family suggests tributes to the American Heart Association or the American Stroke Association.
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