There’s an interesting and impressive story based on Ludlow Street in Summit Hill.

It’s where in 1946, Dr. Albert A.H. Vermillion first hung his shingle on a dentistry legacy that to this day has blossomed to new heights, but most importantly, has been the community’s most successful business.

A veteran of World War II, where he met the dental needs of soldiers, who, like him, were in service to our country, Dr. Vermillion began his career at 29 E. Ludlow St. in the hilltop community.

The business relocated down the street to 39 W. Ludlow St., under the direction of his sons, Drs. Louis and Kenneth Vermillion, who continued their father’s legacy and established the Vermillion Professional Building, and now, in its 80th year, is capably operated by Drs. Richard and Jennifer Vermillion, the elder dentist’s grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

To say the venture that started after the war is an “All in the Family” testament is an understatement. The Vermillions have served families for over 154 collective years and counting, including service in some cases to third generation of family members, making the business arguably the most unique story the Panther Valley.

Consider, Dr. Albert practiced from 1946 until his retirement in 1979 (33 years); Dr. Lou followed from 1973 until his retirement in 2017 (44 years); Dr. Ken “dentised” from 1975 to retirement in 2011 (36 years); and Drs. Rich and Jen are currently in their 26th and 15th years of service.

That adds up to 154 years. Surely, a reason to celebrate; a legacy unparalleled.

“We’re very proud to be carrying on what his grandfather began,” Dr. Rich said on behalf of the foursome of dentists.

In essence, the career of Dr. Albert is something that undoubtedly was passed on to his sons, who, like their father, enjoyed decades of community service in unison with their professional careers.

Drs. Lou and Ken married and raised their families in Summit Hill, where they routinely were involved in community endeavors.

Dr. Lou, the eldest, graduated in 1966 from Panther Valley High School, 1970 from Susquehanna University and 1973 from the Temple University School of Dentistry, at which time he joined his father’s practice.

Dr. Ken followed suit, picking up his Panther Valley diploma in 1967 before moving on to Susquehanna, where he graduated in 1971, and then earned his doctorate in 1975 from the Temple dental school, before joining his father and brother.

When his health declined, Dr. Albert turned the operation over to his sons, who after five years purchased the former Acme supermarket building and relocated the business there.

“The entirety of our old office would have fit into what is now our waiting room,” Dr. Ken said.

“We loved it (their careers),” Dr. Lou said. “That’s why I worked until I was 70, retiring in 2017.”

He added, “It meant a lot for us to join our father’s business. Our patients were our friends and our friends were our patients.”

Dr. Ken noted, “We grew up with it. Dentistry was always in front of us so it was natural for us to follow our father’s profession.”

Recalling the ability he and his brother had to walk to work, he said, “It was great. People (along their walks to work) would set their clocks by us. But it (that interaction) was an advantage of being in a small town. A lot of friends were envious; we had a two block walk to work. But, we saw a lot of patients and we loved what we did.”

Dr. Ken retired at the age of 62 in 2011, but he said he had a “retirement ticket,” referencing the fact that his niece-in-law, Dr. Jen, had enrolled in dental school and their plan was for her to join the business.

Building a strong foundation

During their careers, the brothers became engulfed in community concerns.

Among them, Dr. Lou became a leader in the Summit Hill Historical Society and Summit Hill Shade Tree Commission; was a Boy Scout leader; and served six years on the Panther Valley School District Board of Directors.

Dr. Ken, a former highly successful quarterback at Panther Valley who is an inductee in the Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame, shared his talents as a part-time volunteer football coach at his alma mater.

Following his retirement, he and his wife moved to Florida, where Dr. Ken became extremely active in mission work to Haiti through their church and synod (diocese).

He said, “My first trip was as a dentist as part of a medical mission trip. Subsequently, I led a needs assessment trip and on my final trip in 2016, I helped coordinate a construction crew that replaced one of the roofs of a church we supported. At that point due to the political turmoil and gang violence, it was no longer safe to send mission teams to Haiti. Even though we have returned from Florida, I remain active with the Haiti Team of the Florida Bahamas Synod and the Team continue to assist our Haitians friends from afar.”

Both doctors had belonged to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Summit Hill, where for many years they served on the church council, stints, Dr. Ken, said were a “real joy.”

They played prominent roles years ago in the resurrection of the Summit Hill Memorial Day Parade, helping to form the parade committee that continues to sponsor the annual event every May.

Dr. Lou said, “We felt responsible to give back to the community; never shied away from helping.” Dr. Ken added, “Giving back to the community is something that was important to us. We believe a person should always share their talents, whatever they may be.”

Throughout their careers, they said, “We had tremendous support of our wives.”

Dr. Lou and his wife, the former Maxine Malkin, continue to reside in Summit Hill. In addition to Dr. Rich, they have a daughter, Allison, wife of Alan Long of Fairbanks, Alaska, and another son, Thomas, married to the former Alicia Smith, and are the grandparents of Ethan, Maxwell, Leland, Abbey, Natalie and Brody.

Dr. Ken is married to the former Roxane Havice. They reside in Linfield and are the parents of two children, Jonathan Vermillion, married to the former Mary Horvat, and Stephanie Vermillion, married to Stephen Porter, and are the grandparents of Nathan and Arthur Vermillion.

New era underway

If he were here today, no doubt, Dr. Albert would be proud to see how the business he began has elevated to a new level under Drs. Rich and Jen.

Dr. Lou said, “It meant a lot to me that our son wanted to become a dentist. I was somewhat flabbergasted, but Ken took him on like he was his son.”

The three dentists maintained the practice for 11 years until Dr. Ken retired and Dr. Jen joined the business in 2011. “It was a smooth transition; I never looked back,” Dr. Ken said, adding they “did and do miss the great staff we had that made the practice,” a testament Dr. Lou quickly affirmed.

The retired doctors both said they watch with pride how their successors have taken the business to what Dr. Lou called “a whole different level.”

Dr. Rich is a 1992 graduate of Panther Valley, a 1996 alumni of the University of Pittsburgh, and a 2000 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

Dr. Jen, a daughter of the late Bernard and Madlyn Gazo of Lansford, is a 1991 graduate of Marian Catholic High School and a 1996 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in pharmacy.

Drs. Rich and Jen have two children, Ethan Vermillion, and his wife, Karissa Smith, and Maxwell Vermillion. They are the grandparents of Wesley Vermillion.

Dr. Jen worked for 9-10 years as a pharmacist, primarily at Bill Kennedy’s former Medicine Shoppe in Lansford, before entering dental school and graduating from Temple in 2011.

Dr. Rich, a chemical engineering undergraduate, said, “I never grew up planning to be a dentist, but as my collegiate career was unwinding and when I was deciding upon a career path, dentistry rose to the top.”

He added, “I love it (the profession) on so many levels, the tradition of family and community being one of them. But I love the technical aspect of the profession, using my mind and hands. We have a great team here, and I love that as well, it’s a win-win-win-win situation.”

Both current dentists play significant extra roles in their professions. Dr. Rich teaches dental students at a clinic in Philadelphia for the Temple Dental School, which he has done for the past 11 years, and Dr. Jen teaches dentists at the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida, a nonprofit continuing education program for dentists, where her husband serves on the board of directors.

As they venture into the 81st year of Vermillion dentistry in the Panther Valley, Dr. Rich said, “We’re looking forward to the future. We’re relatively young professionals, right in the middle of the whole thing. But we wouldn’t be where we are today without the team we have here and the patients we have. The level of trust is great. People trust us to do the best we can, so it’s important that we treat people well. We couldn’t be happier, and the trust means a lot to us. It adds a layer of enjoyment to what we do.”

Dr. Jen agreed, explaining her joy with entering the profession. She said, “The dental office was never outside the family, and Dr. Ken wanted to retire. The practice was too big to go from three to two dentists, so I jumped.”

She added, “At Pitt, the pharmacist and dentist (students) are in the same building and the classes are intermingled. I have friends who were in dental school, so I had a little exposure to it. It crossed my mind, and when the opportunity presented itself a second time, I thought it was the right thing to do.”

Summing up the venture started by Dr. Rich’s grandfather, she said, “I feel very honored to be a part of it. The legacy means a lot, especially to Richard, and so we are enjoying this journey.”