01/24/2023
We are deeply saddened to announce that Dr. Cortese suddenly passed away Saturday, January 21st. If you are a current patient, please be assured that we are diligently working on securing the best practitioner to complete your care and will get back to you as soon as possible. Please see the obituary below for viewing and funeral information.
Michael R. Cortese, D.M.D., 69, of Princeton passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton. Michael was born in South Plainfield, NJ, and spent his childhood there. As a young man, Michael reached the prestigious level of Eagle Scout and lettered in 4 sports every year at St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen, NJ. He enjoyed spending his summers at the Jersey Shore swimming, body surfing and lifeguarded in Plainfield.
Michael was a proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame. While in college, he met his wife Angela, and they were married in 1976. They lived in Ridgefield Park, NJ, while Michael pursued his Doctor of Medical Dentistry from the Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Dentistry, and their son was born in 1980. After he earned his doctorate, the family moved to Texas, where their daughter was born in 1983. During their time in Texas, Dr. Cortese received his Certificate in Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Dental Oncology from the University of Texas Health Science Center M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute. The family moved to Princeton in 1987 where he established the facility which would later become Princeton Prosthodontics.
Dr. Cortese was a member of the prestigious American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics. He is one of only 360 accredited Maxillofacial Prosthodontists worldwide. He was a member of the American College of Prosthodontics, American Dental Association, Society of Clinical Oncology, New Jersey Dental Association, Osseointegration Society, and Academy of Osseointegration.
Dr. Cortese was a skilled dental artist creating facial and oral prosthetics for patients to be able to function after cancer surgery. He spent over thirty years healing and treating the Princeton community and beyond. His treated all of his patients like family. His staff never left him and Melissa Cowman, his Dental Assistant and Practice Administrator, worked with him side-by-side for over thirty five years. Michael was one of the very first dentists in the US certified by Apollo Health collaborating with physicians to screen, prevent, and reverse Alzheimer's and dementia.
He loved all things Notre Dame, the Jersey Shore, cooking for his family, 60s music, and a good cigar. He proudly coached his daughter's soccer team and other youth sports in the community. He will be missed by his loving family and many friends.
He is survived by his loving wife, Angela (Morrison) Cortese, son Michael Cortese, daughter Lauren Cortese, his mother Josephine Cortese, three sisters and three brothers-in-law; Terry and Tony Mangion, Joanne and Martin Smith, Pati and Jim Brenn, a brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Nancy Cortese, and many nieces and nephews. Michael is predeceased by his father Michael A. Cortese.
A Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at Mather Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Avenue Princeton, NJ 08542. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 27, 2023 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542.
