Everyone has their “Happy Place” and one of Lou’s and his wife Joan is Hawaii. They’ve been there eight times since they met at a party in Livingston back in 1982. And this past June, they returned there to celebrate their 40^th wedding anniversary. There is a place in Maui, called Momma’s Fish House that is their favorite. If you want to check it out, just a word of caution that reservations are required six months in advance. In between 1982 and now, they have a lot of memories – most happy, some challenging but now with two grandchildren in the mix, always rewarding.

There are a few classmates who know Lou in a very different way. He’s their dentist and has been for as long as forty years. And those classmates say great things about Lou, both as a dentist and a friend. Lou got his dental training at Fairleigh Dickinson, both undergraduate and dental school, where he graduated in the top 10% of his class and a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He was also president of his dental school class. Lou’s practice focuses on a wide range of dental services using the latest advanced techniques and technology. His office is located in East Hanover. In fact, his office is in his house and he likes to joke about his short commute.

Lou loves being a dentist and finds a passion in learning the ever-evolving techniques. He has treated thousands of happy patients and plans on continuing his work into the next decade. He thrives – and prides himself – on his continuing education in the field and holds a Fellowship in Implantology. And he has not limited himself just to his office – he has spent time in the Dominican Republic as part of the Doctor’s without Borders organization providing much needed services.

Before settling in East Hanover, Lou and Joan lived in Livingston and started their family there. Joan spent her early career working in Periodontry. Older son Louis, Jr., now married and the father of two little girls, Emma and Livie, is involved in commercial Real Estate with a prior background and continuing interest in cinematic special effects. Matthew, the younger son, has worked in the airline industry for nearly ten years and relished his passion in theater while at LHS and Montclair University performing in many comedic roles. But the roots to Livingston run deep as Lou has maintained his decades long friendship with high school classmates Timm Hanlon and Bill Devine as well as the many aforementioned classmates who occupy a turn in his dental chair. Timm was a previous Classmate Spotlight, and Bill joins Lou this month as a fellow spotlight contributor.

And some may remember Lou’s older sister Betty (’74), for whom Lou is particularly proud of as she was a highly regarded educator in West Orange. After her passing in 2011, the Betty Maddalena Foundation was established and the West Orange Board of Education named a new pre-school center The Betty Maddalena Early Learning Center, located on Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Betty was the first to receive the prestigious Educator Medal of Honor Award in 2006 from Governor Jon Corzine and Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy.

Another Happy Place for the Maddalena family is Long Beach Island, which has been a mainstay for them for close to 20 years and the scene of many happy family events and memories. But these days, after the many school children age patients have gotten their back-to-school dental cleanings and check-ups, Lou and Joan head to their new hangout, Aruba, to enjoy a nice quiet week getting ready for the next cycle on the trip around the sun. Retirement as it is traditionally defined, is not on Lou’s dance card at the moment – as mentioned earlier, he envisions enjoying the company of his patients into his mid-70’s and combining that with his dedication and love for his family and friends. He extends his best wishes to his high school classmates and is looking forward to reconnecting with many as we celebrate our 50^th year in 2027.