Anthony LaVern Lund

Anthony LaVern Lund, born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin November 8, 1928 to Florence and Anton Lund, died peacefully, with dignity and on his own terms, as one should, on August 7, 2026. Florence was a Mayo Clinic seamstress and waitress at the Rochester Golf & Country Club; Anton operated two neighborhood grocery stores until losing both in the Great Depression. His parents, sisters Alice Fitzpatrick and Jean Brunner, wife Mary Marjorie Lund, son Patrick Anthony Lund and countless friends, acquaintances and colleagues left before him.

"Dr. Tony" was an iconic, pioneering, unparalleled, internationally renowned pediatric dentist, one of the first such specialists in the world, who jokingly attributed many of his successes in life to the proclamation of a Navy captain at Great Lakes Naval Station Dental Corps. during the Korean War, "Lt. Lund, you're all guts and no brains." He was exceedingly proud of his military service.

A polio survivor, during kindergarten he was wheeled around his impoverished Northrup Grade School northwest neighborhood by his friends and sister Jean in a Radio Flyer wagon, which is still at the family Cedar Beach Lake Zumbro cabin. Moving from a comfortable southeast Rochester home to a spartan northwest Rochester apartment for $4.50 per month, his Great Depression childhood existence was "simple and tough." He sought participation in sports to be afforded the relief of an after practice bathing shower at school.

A proud graduate of Rochester High School, class of 1946, he was elected student council president his senior year, played first chair trumpet in the band and athletically competed in swimming, track and riding wealthy southwest Rochester girls around on his Cushman motor scooter after lifeguarding duties at Soldiers Memorial Field pool. Tony's senior yearbook quote, "Flirting with mermaids is more fun than swimming," captured his essence.

He also befriended Tom Austin, son of Dr. Louis Austin and Kahler Hench, son of Dr. Phillip Hench. Both physicians, by virtue of their kindness and encouragement, became an inspirational part of his life trajectory. As did, significantly, his dentist Dr. Matthew Eusterman.

After attending Rochester Junior College, where Tony participated in basketball and track, he matriculated to the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1950. He absolutely loved "The U." In 1950, based upon a letter of recommendation from Dr. Austin, drafted in his elegant study at 526 9th Avenue S.W., he transitioned into dental school where he fell in love, at first sight, with the Irish Catholic St. Paul born Mary McCarthy at a party on campus. She was not so struck. The future pediatric dentist and dental hygienist married each other on October 23, 1953 at St. Marks Catholic Church in St. Paul.

In 1958, despite being warned by the Mayo Clinic hierarchy powers that there would never be a need for a strictly pediatric dentist, Dr. Tony established and opened a one chair operatory children's dental office on the second floor of the Downtown Professional Building on corner of First Street and Third Avenue S.W., adjacent to the Lawler Theater, Avenue Barbershop, and original Wade's Broiler. "Two eggs sunny side up, hashbrowns, toast, and coffee" was his consistent order.

Subsequently, he and Dr. Lloyd Truax converted, multiple times, a grocery store across the street from the since Mayo Clinic-demolished historic Lourdes High School at 15 7th Street N.W. into separate yet integrated dental practices, pediatric and orthodontic. They collectively treated the vast majority of kids in town while inventing, developing and implementing a revolutionary "tooth guidance" tooth extraction program still utilized today. At times he navigated three operatories, sometimes seeing up to 100 children in a day for recall exams. The Mayo Clinic referred all the children of its high-profile royalty and elected official patients to Dr. Tony, where he and his staff would treat them discreetly after hours. All patients, regardless of societal status, ended their appointments digging through the mailbox-esque treasure chest full of trinkets and glittering costume rings.

Tony was an active member of the Minnesota Dental Association, Olmsted County Dental Society (President), Southeastern District Dental Society, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (finance committee), Minnesota Association of Pediatric Dentists (President), Olmsted County Health Board (President), and President of the Home School Association-St. John's Catholic Grade School. As a revered clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry since the early 1960s, he impacted hundreds of dental students as he gently yet skillfully taught the art of pediatric dentistry.

His children, Kevin, Sharon and Patrick, were the focus of his unconditional encouragement during every accomplishment and setback of their respective lives. He rarely missed any event they participated in.

Tony loved Mary, Dr. Austin's home at 526 9th Avenue S.W. (he and Mary purchased it in 1963), women, New York City, whistling while he worked, humanity, Just-Rite Grocery Store, Wade's Broiler, Bob Gorlin, cold beer, his grandsons, Judge Judy, Ralph Lauren Polo, any Mayo-JM game, Hostess Snowballs, KNXR, bongos, white buck shoes with no socks, seersucker suits, Sandy Point Supper Club, Reisling, Mike Till, hummingbirds, dentistry, Al Hirt, basketball, the Hallmark Channel, dancing, playing with the Elk's "Drunk and Bugle Corps.", the family Lake Zumbro cabin built by the Berkman/Mayo family and pool deck/pool house built with his own hands, the city of Bruges, carpentry, the University of Minnesota Marching Band, Rusty Nails, candy, black licorice, Mickey Mouse, his dental office "fabulous four"(Dr. Tony, Karin, Susie and Peggy), Jim Stocke, the aquarium in his dental office waiting room, Dick Fryer, Rochester, jazz, Amsterdam, Frank Sinatra, Gopher football and basketball, Whitcraft Houseboats, boating on the Mississippi River, Lori, Tom and Red, his Mazda RX-7, extended conversation, Italy, the Nakashian-O'Neil Christmas party, Hanny's Men's Wear, cardinals, fur coats, working hard, Stan Kenton, Jock McKenzie, and life.

A dedicated, loving, funny, engaging, relentless, gracious, talkative, kind, understanding, tough human being, Tony endeavored to embrace everyone and make them feel happier about themselves after interacting with him.

He is survived by Dr. Sharon Marie Lund (John), St. Paul, Judge Kevin Anthony Lund (Diane "Zap"), Rochester, grandsons Bryan Anthony Lund, Rochester, Eric Emerson Lund (Melisa Selca), St. Paul and Joseph Kevin McCarthy Lund, Minneapolis, along with Patrick's widow, Jamie Lund (Clemence, Myles, and Charline Flott), San Francisco, and dear friend and colleague Dr. Angela Wandera, Eden Prairie.

Shortly before his death, Tony specifically requested he, Mary and Pat be celebrated together to provide a measure of closure for those who knew, loved and admired all of them. A private gathering for friends and family will take place at Soldiers Memorial Field this fall.

Memorial gifts should be directed to the Pat Lund Memorial Post-Secondary Scholarship Fund, The Reading Center, 2010 Scott Road N.W., Rochester, Minnesota 55901.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Lund family; to share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.