Watson, D.D.S., Jay Forbes Jay Watson, age 72, died suddenly and unexpectedly on June 3, 2012 in his home in Porter Ranch, CA, after a long battle with orthostatic hypotension. He was born and raised in Joliet, IL, graduating from Joliet Township High School in 1957 (He was looking forward to seeing classmates at his 55th class reunion this year). Jay attained the rank of Eagle Scout and was a proud member of Boy Scout Troop 25, known in the 1950s as "The Hiking 25". Jay attended St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN and graduated with a B.S. degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago. He then went on to get his D.D.S. degree from the University of Illinois Dental School in Chicago and later an MS from USC. He served three years as a Captain and dentist in the U.S. Air Force, being stationed at March AFB in Riverside, CA. Jay then spent 35 years as a Professor of Operative Dentistry at UCLA. Over the course of his long academic career, he was voted the outstanding professor many times by the dental students. Early in his career at UCLA, he was named one of the outstanding young dentists in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Magazine. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Barbara, of Porter Ranch, CA and his daughter, Wendy, of Santa Monica, CA. He is also survived by his brother Bob (Arlene) of Lemont, IL and his sister Marilyn (Anthony) Arellano of Joliet, IL. He is also survived by several nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Snyder and Helen (Nell) Watson and his brothers, Bill and Jim. Jay's younger brother, Jim, died recently on April 15, 2012 in Pittsburgh, PA. A memorial service/lunch will be held Thursday June 14th at 11:30 at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, 20121 Devonshire St., Chatsworth CA. A memorial service will also be held in Joliet, IL at a later date.
Published in Herald News on June 10, 2012
