My father, Jo Eisenberg, who has died aged 84, was a dentist for more than 50 years, mostly in Blackheath, south London, where he gained near-celebrity status for his trademark white jeans. He was seen out and about daily in the village, chatting with local people.
He arrived in Blackheath in 1968. Inspired by groovy Vidal Sassoon hair salons of the period, he styled his surgery with a darkened glass shopfront and quarry tiles for the floor. He soon established a standing-room-only following of patients. He liked them all to know that he was an avid Manchester United supporter, and he wanted to be everyone’s friend. It may have appeared that the dental work got in the way of the fun, but he was also a brilliant dentist.
Jo was born in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, son of Danny Eisenberg, a kosher poulterer, and his wife, Betty (nee Berkovitch). He grew up in Salford and attended Salford grammar school. He studied dentistry at Manchester dental hospital, graduating in 1960, and then worked in Knightsbridge and Plumstead, London, before opening his own practice in Blackheath in 1968. It was called Jo Eisenberg and Associates and later Blackheath Village Dental practice, before being renamed Sparklysmile.
In the 1980s, Jo was a founder member of the Ashkelon volunteer dental clinic for deprived children in Israel, which is still in operation, helping poor children to receive dental care.
After more than 50 years of dentistry, in 2009 he was awarded a certificate of merit by the British Dental Association. He retired in 2010 and handed over the practice to me.
In retirement, he enjoyed his dogs and his garden.
Jo married and divorced twice. He is survived by his three children, Johnny, Hatty and me, from his marriage to Hilary Greenberg, and by five grandchildren.
