The Concordia Lutheran High School Alumni Association is honored to present the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award for lifetime achievement to Dr. Gary L. Gotsch. 

Gary Gotsch graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in 1969.  He then attended Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne to pursue a degree in zoology.  While in his third year of undergraduate school, Gotsch was accepted into dental school at Indiana University in Indianapolis. Dr. Gotsch completed his degree in zoology and graduated from dental school in 1976 and went on to work for one year in a general dental practice in Bourbon, Indiana.  Gotsch then returned to Indiana University to pursue graduate work in Maxillofacial Prosthodontics.  In 1980, upon graduation from the master’s program, Dr. Gotsch moved to Fort Wayne and established his current dental practice. 

Dr. Gotsch is one of only two dentists in the state of Indiana who limits his practice to prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics.  His work provides many services to patients that have birth defects, disease, or have experienced accidents that have left them with an appearance that inhibits their ability to lead active and social lives.  Some of the specialty services include:  dentures, hand painted artificial eyes, appliances for cleft palates, and silicone face pieces.  Because he specializes in challenging cases, his patients come to see him from cities throughout Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Kentucky. 

Gary serves the Fort Wayne and surrounding community in a quiet manner.  His work dedication has always been driven by serving others and God. He especially enjoys being able to combine his love of children with work and in one case; he made a special interchangeable mouthpiece for a three year-old quadriplegic that allowed her to be creative by using pens, pencils, markers, and paintbrushes for the first time.  In January, 2009, Fort Wayne Business People Magazine featured Dr. Gotsch with an article entitled, “A Unique Specialty & Rare Gift.”  In this article his closing comment was, “I love my family.  I love my staff.  And I love my patients.  It’s a wonderful combination.  I don’t work.  I just come here and have fun.”

Within the Fort Wayne community, the Gotsch family attends St. Michael Lutheran Church.  Gary has served as an elder, on the church leadership team, and is currently serving on their evangelism team.  Congregation member, Jim Sims, comments that, “Gary loves his family and he gives of himself always-he is a selfless servant.”

Gary and his wife of 30 years, Debbie, are the proud parents of three children.  All children are Concordia Lutheran High School graduates:  Nathan, class of 2001, Amanda, class of 2003, and Chrysta, class of 2006.

The Concordia Lutheran High School Alumni Association is proud of the service that Dr. Gary L. Gotsch has provided to the Fort Wayne community and his willingness to use his God given talents to serve others.

Nomination forms for the 2010 Distinguished Alumnus are currently being accepted.  Click here to access the form.  Nominations are due by April 10, 2010 and can be submitted to Concordia Lutheran High School, 1601 St. Joe River Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 ATTN:  Janne Ross.

Last updated on Friday, January 8, 2010