Peter Emily

Peter P. Emily, DDS., 90, of Lakewood, Colorado, died peacefully in his sleep early Wednesday morning on August 24, 2022 in Lakewood Colorado. Born June 9, 1932, he grew up in north Denver, the son of the late Olivia “Lee” Primavera and Selori Aguila. When he was six, Peter took his last name from his step father, Donald Emily.  He was a Boy Scout, played the coronet and graduated in 1950 from North High School in Denver, and served in the Air National Guard in Colorado, being activated in 1951, and served as a Senior Aircraft Mechanic for the 120th Bomber Wing in Clovis New Mexico until 1952 when he was honorably discharged.

Peter Emily, as a young man, wanted to be a veterinarian, but friends and family prevailed and he went to dental school. Following completion of two years at Regis College in Denver 1953-1954/, he entered Creighton School of Dentistry in Omaha on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1959. Dr. Emily went on to earn certificates in periodontology and pathology from the University of Pennsylvania. and restorative dentistry and radiology from Denver General Hospital. In addition to being a successful dentist for people, Dr. Emily was passionate and self-taught about the welfare of animals. Dr. Emily also served as a certified American Kennel Club (AKC) Working Breed Judge for forty years. In the 1980s Dr. Emily taught the first elective course in animal dentistry at the Colorado State University Veterinary School in Ft. Collins.  He was, also, an AKC certified working breeds judge and went on to make a profound impact, devoting fifty years to the improvement of oral health for both small and large companion animals, as well as captive wild animals, large and small, throughout the world. He authored numerous professional articles, book chapters, and the final of his four animal dental text books, Zoo and Wild Animal Dentistry, was published by John Wiley and Sons, in 2021 when he was eighty-nine years old.

Over the course his sixty-three year career he has lectured nationally and internationally on six continents and received multiple national and international awards for his contributions to veterinary dentistry. In addition to his professional endeavors, Dr. Emily was an accomplished artist, devoting his talents to sculpting bronze statues and 18kt gold jewelry. He was an avid collector of paintings, sculptures, ceramic animals, coins and guns.

He is survived by his sister, Sharon Armstrong, his former wife, Marcie, and his four children, Gina, Joni, Anthony and Joseph, as well as two grandchildren, Rick Raney, DDS and Juliette Emily, and three great grandchildren, Jonah, Joshua, and Joseph.

A Visitation will be held on Thursday September 15th from 2pm-6pm at the Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3020 Federal Boulevard Denver CO. A Rosary will immediately follow the visitation at 6pm.

Family and friends who are not able to attend the visitation and rosary in person are invited to view the service on a live stream beginning at 3:00pm. on Thursday September 15th. Services can be accessed at the following link: ForgetMeNot

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday September 16th, at 11am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 3549 Navajo St Denver CO.

Please share memories of Peter & condolences with his family by visiting the tribute wall.