Obituary

Dr. Irvin sopher, 81, died at his home in south charleston on november 6, 2017.

The son of the late isadore and bessie sopher, irvin grew up in baltimore where he attended forest park high school, developing an interest in biological science and sports cars, specifically the corvette.

At the university of maryland, college park, irv earned a psychology degree in 1958. He subsequently attended the university of maryland school of dentistry, earning his dds in 1962. During one of his dental school summers, he worked at a medical lab where the study of pathology captivated him. He followed this passion to medical school at the university of maryland, from which he earned his md in 1966.

After working as a forensic pathologist in the maryland state medical examiner’s office, irv served in the united states army at the armed forces institute of pathology in silver spring, maryland. At this time, his book, forensic dentistry, became a groundbreaking text in the field.

In 1975, irv took on the charge of creating a medical examiners system for the state of west virginia. During his tenure in this post, he testified in numerous state and national hearings, performing investigations in his specialized field that integrated dentistry, medicine, and law. Most notably, he performed dental examinations in the 1981 exhumation of lee harvey oswald.

Irv had a penchant for boston terriers, world war ii literature, the jfk assassination, classical music, and sports cars.

He is survived by his sister, sondra singer, of san antonio, texas; daughter, lisa sopher (jon), of shrewsbury, pennsylvania; daughter, jamie sopher, of westminster, maryland; son, andrew sopher (kristy), of larkspur, colorado; granddaughters, sarah sopher and sophia pugliese, of westminster, maryland; grandsons, noah and landon pugliese, of westminster, maryland.

A memorial service will be held on saturday, november 25, 5:30 pm, at b’nai jacob synagogue.

You may send condolences to the family at www.Barlowbonsall.Com

barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements.