By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Dr. Siegel

Family was important to Dr. Paul Frederick Siegel. He was a second-generation member of his family dental practice, and he shared his love of flying and sailing with his wife and children.

"He taught us that if we wanted to do something and we put our minds to it, we could do anything," said his daughter, Andrea Mary of Cambridge, Mass. "He taught us how to sail. That's a legacy I value. He not only did it for family fun, but he taught us teamwork and how to compete."

She added that her father was very good with his hands, and after building model boats and airplanes, decided he wanted to rebuild an airplane.

"He went out and bought a 1946 Aeronca Champion; the wings were removed, and he had it towed to the house and put in the basement."

Dr. Siegel taught his sons how to fly and they worked on the plane together, eventually flying it. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and regularly flew with his sons in their homebuilt aircraft.

He earned his pilot's license in 1968 and was an avid pilot, attaining ratings as a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor for instrument and multiengine aircraft.

Dr. Siegel died at his home Saturday. The Hyde Park resident was 84.

Born in 1919 to Rudolph and Anna Katherine Gosiger Siegel of Fernbank, he grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from Xavier High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Xavier University in 1941.

After graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy. As a lieutenant, he commanded a flotilla of landing craft that shipped munitions and fuel into mainland China. His unit received a citation for performing hazardous duty.

He married Ann Rita Voss in 1949. They spent their six-week honeymoon cruising the North Channel of Lake Huron, Mich., on a 35-foot wooden sailboat. Mrs. Siegel had never been sailing before.

After the war, Dr. Siegel attended dental school at Ohio State University and became a board certified endodontist. In 1949, he joined the dental practice of his father, Rudolph, and brothers, Louis and J. Vincent. It was located in the Provident Bank Building downtown.

He was a visiting professor of Endodontia at Ohio State in the mid-1970s and served as president of the Queen City Dental Society and the Ohio Association of Endodontists.

Dr. Siegel retired in 1980 and his son, Paul Jr. of Indian Hill, has continued the family practice.

He was on the boards of The Summit Country Day School, St. Xavier High School and Xavier University. His memberships included The Knights of Malta and The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher.

He loved Irish setter dogs, and his family bred setters for more than 20 years. Other interests included racing and recreational sailing while on summer family vacations in Harbor Springs, Mich.

In addition to daughter, Andrea Mary, and son, Paul F. Jr., he is survived by his wife of 53 years; sister Delores Spille of Fort Mitchell; three other daughters, Elizabeth Ann Baele of Centerville, Ohio, Frances Jane Upton of Roscommon, Mich., and Christine Louise Eberle of Birmingham, Mich.; two other sons, Rudolph II of Hyde Park and James Clifford of Finneytown; and 15 grandchildren.

Services have been held.

Memorials: Milford Spiritual Center, 5361 S. Milford Road, Milford, 45150.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com.