Rees C. Flannery, D.D.S.

Rees Crawford Flannery, D.D.S. of Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, born on October 10, 1940 in New Castle, Pennsylvania to the late Florence and Rees V. Flannery, passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on January 19, 2021 at St. Margaret Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jane Weingartner Flannery; son, Rees C. Flannery, Jr. (Jenni); daughter, Lauren Flannery Thiele (Eric); beloved grandchildren, Taylor, Grant and Brooke Thiele; brother of Dawna Brian (Michael) and Dr. Robert Flannery; brother-in-law of George Weingartner (Laurie) and Tom Weingartner (LouAnn); also by many nieces and nephews, and his beloved friends and loyal patients who made up his extended family.

Rees graduated from New Castle High School in 1958 where he excelled in basketball. He attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. There he was the President of his senior class, the goalie on the varsity soccer team, a member of the basketball team, and a brother at  Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

After college, Rees taught sixth grade at Neshannock Elementary in New Castle where he coached junior athletics. He then attended dental school at Case Western Reserve from 1963-1967. Following graduation from dental school, he became a Lieutenant in the United States Navy attached to the Fifth Marine Division. Stationed at Camp Pendleton for two years in Oceanside, California he was a Dental Executive Officer.

In 1970, Rees opened his dental practice in Ingomar, Pennsylvania with his partners, Dr. Bert Bullington and Dr. Paul Rapetti, where he worked for forty-nine years retiring at the age of seventy-nine. He loved his patients dearly. Rees enjoyed teaching dentistry at the University of  Pittsburgh Dental School for nineteen years. He was a member of  the Psi Omega Dental Fraternity and the American Dental Association.

Rees also was a member of the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, the Pittsburgh Field Club, and the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.

One of his passions was flying airplanes. Starting in 1978, he accumulated 1400 hours over the course of the next twelve years flying his own Piper Arrow and Mooney planes. Rees also had a love for sailing and he sailed the Chesapeake Bay and the Caribbean Islands with his wife, family, and friends. Additionally, for many years Rees was a charter boat captain of his own sport fishing boat docked at the Sailfish Marina in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Rees was an avid reader, loved spending time with his grandchildren who called him "D-Dad", and enjoyed his retirement years working with his friends at Longwood in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Compassion and kindness were two of his best attributes. He always said that he loved to hear people laugh. His traditional Irish greeting was “Top of the morning to you”. For all who have ever sat in his dental chair, Rees would want you to keep on smiling. He was a true gentleman and loved by all. A celebration of his wonderful life is tentatively planned for a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in his name to: St. Margaret Foundation, 815 Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15215.

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