Max L Lingo, DDS

Dr. Max L. Lingo, 71, of Evansville, passed away peacefully, naturally, without medication, on June 12, 2020 from complications related to treatment of mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive cancer that is always fatal. Max’s 8- month cancer journey was brutal, his decline sudden, unexpected and rapid. Max’s journey ended during sunset, at home with MaryAnn beside him, beloved dogs snuggled up close, his bed overlooking the flower filled backyard on the Ohio River.

Max, a lifelong Evansville resident, was the only child of Max and Antimina Lingo who both pre-deceased him. He is a 1966 Rex Mundi graduate, a 1970 University of Evansville graduate, and a 1974 honors graduate of IU School of Dentistry.

Dentistry was an accidental occupation. In need of a job his freshman year at University of Evansville, Max responded to a university pin board notice seeking a pre-dental student to be trained as a Lab Technician. Max was not pre-dental but he was intuitively good with tools and machinery, at fixing things, and he had superior manual dexterity. Max was taught the “lost wax method” and fabricated dental prosthetics during college, dental school and beyond.

Max was a hard-working, self-made man. He secured a business mortgage loan while still a dental student in order to buy a building at the corner of Diamond and Kentucky Avenues. He was hands on in the extensive remodel, coming home weekends to do much of the work himself. Fall 1974, with the burden of school and commercial loans, Max opened his dental practice and remained in this location until the Diamond Avenue widening project forced him to relocate. From Dec 31, 2005 until April 24, 2020 Max practiced in a building he designed himself located at the intersection of Lynch and Oak Hill Roads. He loved the art and science of dentistry and was a gifted clinician. Work was his happy place. Max loved his patients, but most of all he loved working alongside his son, Sam for the last 10 years and had no plans to retire. Max treasured the annual father-son trips Sam organized; they quickly became tradition and the topic of many humorous conversations with patients.

Max was a lifetime member of the American Dental Association, Indiana Dental Association, First District Dental Society and numerous other dental associations.

Max was a devoted husband, father and family man; he prided himself on taking excellent care of his family. Max believed parenting is a lifetime job, parented by example, and never wavered as a role model.

As Sam grew from teen to man, he and Max developed a father-son relationship so close they became best friends. Despite the successes Max enjoyed throughout his 46- year career, he was most proud of the man and father Sam had become. Max very much wanted to see his grandson Bentley grow up.

Max lived a fulfilled, complete life. He and MaryAnn were content; they enjoyed a long and happy marriage. Over the years they boated, traveled, went to countless dental meetings and conventions. Their commitment to each other never wavered. Throughout their marriage Max delighted in saying “MaryAnn’s from Henderson. I put shoes on her and brought her across the river.”

Max is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, MaryAnn; only child, son Sam who returned to Evansville after earning his MBA to become his Business/Practice Administrator; his only grandchild, Bentley; his beloved dogs Isa, ChaCha and CoCo; sister and brother-in-law Lisa and Larry Lant; sister-in-law Julie Sebastian; niece Scarlett Lant Zirkle, her husband Seth and their two daughters and niece Amelia Lant.

In accordance with his wishes, Max was cremated and ashes scattered by MaryAnn, Sam, and Bentley.

Family, friends, and patients are invited to celebrate the life of Max, on Sunday, July 19 from 2 PM to 5 PM at Oak Meadow Country Club.

Instead of floral or other remembrances, Max requested donations be made to the only nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to ending Mesothelioma and the suffering this cancer causes, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation at 1615 L Street NW, Suite 430, Washington, D.C., 20036.