Dr. Michael E. Sovanich DDS, 72, of Frankfort, died August 29, 2024 at Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, Indianapolis.  He was born March 8, 1952 in Michigan City, Indiana to John W. & Helen (McHale) Sovanich.  He married Robin K. Snyder on March 19, 1982 in Indianapolis and she survives.

Michael was a 1970 graduate of Elston High School in Michigan City, a 1976 graduate of Purdue University with a BS Biology degree, a 1982 graduate of Indiana University School of Dentistry and received his Postdoctoral Fellowship in 1983 from Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD.  He then received his Fellowship for the Academy of General Dentistry and Masters from the Academy of General Dentistry.  He was a self-employed dentist, owning Dr. Michael E. Sovanich Family Dentistry in Frankfort, IN from 1985 until his retirement in 2017. While working in private practice, he also worked at the Indiana School of Dentistry as an assistant clinical professor in the Comprehensive Care & Allied Professions as a clinical director.  Dr. Sovanich was a former director of the emergency services department for 4 years and faculty sponsor for the student outreach program.  He taught at Indiana University School of Dentistry from 1986 until present.   He was also a Commission Dental Competency Assessment and Dental Board Examiner.  From 2016 until his retirement from private practice, he was an Adjunct Professor for the Ivy Tech Dental Assisting Program.

Michael has lived in Michigan City, IN, Indianapolis, IN, Baltimore, MD, Valparaiso, IN and Frankfort, IN.  His memberships include: Phi Beta Kappa, OKU Theta Chapter, American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Indiana Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society, The American Academy of Oral Medicine, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, Indianapolis District Dental Society, the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments, and the Frankfort Kiwana’s Club.

Dr. Sovanich’s service included Faculty Volunteer and Teacher for “Give Kids a Smile”, Faculty Volunteer and Teacher for “Special Olympics”, active member of the Dental Admissions Committee, member of the Indiana University School of Dentistry Emergency Committee, member and active Participant of the Indianapolis District Dental Society Peer Review Committee, Faculty Volunteer and Leader for the Global Service Learning Site on the Lakota Rosebud Reservation in St. Frances, SD, Faculty Advisor and Volunteer for the Student Outreach Clinic near east Indianapolis and Crawfordsville, IN, and Director of the Indiana University School of Dentistry Emergency Department during the initial stages of the COVID pandemic.   He provided direct patient care when most dental practices were closed at that time.

The family would like to say thank you for welcoming Dr. Michael Sovanich into the Frankfort community in 1985.  His number one focus priority was always providing the best patient-centered dental care.  He enjoyed working with his colleagues and loved mentoring his many students at Indiana University School of Dentistry and Ivy Tech over the years.  We hope they continue to learn by his example in the care of their own patients.  Special thank you to all of his office staff, the dental coordinators, office managers, receptionists, dental assistants, and dental hygienists for their professionalism and friendship.  You meant the world to him.

He is survived by his wife:  Robin K. Sovanich of Frankfort, 2 daughters:  Jennifer Lynn Sovanich of Frankfort, Sarah Elizabeth (Vince) Gmerek of Indianapolis, and granddaughter:  Ramona. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, John Patrick Sovanich.

Funeral Services:

 No services are planned at this time.  A private burial will take place at a later date. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the I.U. Foundation to be directed to the Indiana University School of Dentistry Student Outreach Clinic, 1121 W. Michigan Street, Room DS 104, Indianapolis, IN  40202, the Clinton County Humane Society, P.O. Box 455, Frankfort, IN  46041 or the charity of your choice. Clinton County Crematory and Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort are assisting the Sovanich family.