Walter Joseph Psoter

Dr. Walter Joseph Psoter, 74, known to many by “Walt” or “Bud”, was reunited with the love of his life and late wife, Mo, on December 11, 2025, at his home in Durham, NC, while surrounded by his family.

He was born in Meriden, CT, on March 13, 1951, the eldest son to the late Walter and Rosemary (Salka) Psoter. Walter attended Maloney High School in Meriden, CT, before graduating from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He was class valedictorian when he earned his D.D.S. from New York University College of Dentistry in 1979 and would go on to complete his General Practice residency at the University of Rochester the following year.

His professional career spanned five decades, all of which focused on providing and improving health services to traditionally underserved populations both in the U.S. and abroad. He was always an advocate for those whose voices could not or would not be heard. His journey began as a public health dentist with a simple purpose: to strengthen and expand dental services to all in need. He entered the U.S. Public Health Service and was assigned to the S. R. Belvis Community Health Center in the South Bronx, NY. There, he continued to develop his skills, which he would next bring to serve the community at the Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center in Boston, MA, numerous clinics throughout the greater Western MA region, and Rhode Island Hospital. His efforts resulted in expanded access to dental care among disenfranchised and marginalized communities, including those who were impoverished, living with HIV/AIDS, living with disabilities, incarcerated, and unhoused. He was honored to have the privilege to deliver care to his patients. For this, he received numerous commendations and awards, including ones from the Massachusetts Public Health Association and the Springfield Public Health Department.

Recognizing that he could make an even greater impact, Walter returned to school and earned his Ph.D. in Epidemiology from Yale University in 2001. He would fittingly begin his academic career at New York University and end at the University of Rochester, returning to train and educate the next generation of dental professionals at the two places where he received his. Along the way, he would also hold appointments at the University of Puerto Rico and the University of Florida. His fieldwork took him to Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and Costa Rica, which included collaborations with Pan American Health Organization. Walter became an internationally recognized educator through his numerous courses in research methodology, and a scientist who made seminal contributions to our understanding of the timing of tooth emergence, classification of dental caries patterns, and the role of early childhood malnutrition on oral health. For his academic contributions, he was twice nominated as the Distinguished International

Researcher by the International Association of Dental Research. He made lasting impressions on those with whom he worked, and he continued to provide guidance and support to the next generation of clinicians and scientists even after he retired.

Walter’s life was one truly dedicated to the life-long pursuit of knowledge and took much joy in discovering life’s subtleties. He was at his happiest traveling to new places and indulging in its cuisines together with his wife. He was a voracious reader of history and player of strategy games and had a deep appreciation for art and the opera. All the while, he could never pass up the opportunity to swim in the ocean or a pool.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 and a half years, Mo, and his son-in-law Robert Grote. Walter is survived by his three children Jodi Psoter of Beaufort, NC, Karla and Jeremy Soja of Ludlow, MA, and Kevin Psoter and Christina Schumacher of Baltimore, MD; his 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; his two brothers Carl and wife Susan, and Eugene; his sister-in-law Paula and husband Michael and brother-in-law Lawrence and wife Jean; all of his nieces, nephews and cousins; dear friend Maria Lucia and the countless friends he made throughout his life.

His family would like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to Angela, Brenda and Ramelle for their care, compassion, and friendship that they provided to him over the years.

A celebration of life will be arranged by his family at a later date and at a time in which the weather would be to his liking. In lieu of flowers and donations, we encourage all to consider how you can help and mentor others while also supporting those as they do the same. We believe the lasting memory of his extraordinary life can live on through our endeavors.

As a final farewell to all his family and friends, he offers the following… “Live Long and Prosper”.

The Psoter family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service.