Marquette University mourns the loss of Dr. Richard “Rick” Hagner, a Marquette alumnus, retired Army colonel and former clinical director in the School of Dentistry, who died Thursday, Aug. 22. He was 70 years old.
Rick, who received his bachelor’s degree from Marquette in 1976 and his Doctor of Dental Science from the university in 1980, spent 16 years mentoring future generations of dentists at his alma mater.
Prior to returning to Marquette to teach, Rick served for 22 years as a captain in the United States Army and joined the Army Dental Corps as a dentist. He earned numerous honors and awards, including the Order of Military Medical Merit, which recognizes those who are in the top 10% of their corps and have demonstrated high integrity, moral character and selflessness during 15 or more years of dedicated service to Army medicine. While traveling his country and the world alongside his family, he was promoted multiple times, retiring with the rank of colonel.
At Marquette, Rick taught as a Comprehensive Patient Management Group Leader before later becoming clinical director and chair for the Department of Clinical Services. In 2002, he received the Academy of General Dentistry’s Mastership Award. Among his many contributions In his roles as clinical director and department chair, Rick was integral in the design of a new clinic that was added with the dental school’s expansion in 2012. Rick retired in Nov. 2018.
A full obituary is available online.
Visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 30 at St. Camillus Retirement Community in the San Camillo Chapel, 10200 W. Bluemound Road, Wauwatosa, beginning at 2 p.m., and continuing until the Mass of Christian Burial at 4 p.m. Private entombment with military honors will be held at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to United Service Organizations, the Parkinson’s Foundation or Milwaukee Rescue Mission.
Please remember Rick, his family and friends in prayer.
