Stephen Cuchel

Dr. Stephen Joseph Cuchel was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 5, 1938 and died peacefully at home at 875 Bryant Ave Roslyn Harbor, NY 11576 on December 14, 2021, surrounded by family and loved ones. Stephen Cuchel had a long and successful career in the dental profession. After graduating from Union College and receiving a DDS from NYU Dental School he practiced oral surgery from 1965-75. Later in his career he lectured at the NYU Dental School. While practicing dentistry in Valley Stream, Huntington and East Harlem he worked to co-found what would become the first managed care dental company in NY, and ultimately Healthplex, which employed over 500 people and had over 2 million subscribers. Steve Cuchel and his dear friend and NYU classmate, Martin Kane led these companies as CEO and President. To begin they effectively convinced several dozen dentists to offer low-cost dental services to many of New York State’s public employee union members and continued to build upon that for the next forty years making affordable dental plans available to millions of front-line workers and low-income people. Stephen Cuchel was a true visionary but with a wild side. Let it be posthumously known, and with the statute of limitations long expired, that he started the company in the mid-1970s by selling “insurance” with no authority by the state to do so. “Who knew that a license was needed for such things?” he would say. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a family-centered, fun-loving and generous man who appreciated travel, fine art, food and wine, mystery novels and the beach. He was philanthropic, contributing generously to The Nassau County Museum of Art and NYU Dental School for many years. Those of us in his immediate circle will also remember him as a man who could tell the tallest of tales with a straight face as his audience accepted each word as truth. His family cherishes the memory of his expressions of pure joy and love as he greeted us for visits. On a yearly basis, he and “Granny” took their entire family on trips to places like Egypt, India, Kenya and the Amazon. When his grandchildren were at his home he held story time in the gazebo, built toys with them in his woodshop and played for hours in their beautiful garden with electric cars, sleds and the golf cart. Steve is survived by his wife Sharon Cuchel, two children, Karen Cuchel and Natalie Cuchel, three stepchildren, Chris Schmidt, Tim Schmidt, Jane Casale, his sons and daughters in law, Jason Dubow, Pascale Schmidt, Barbara Schmidt, and Sam Casale, and 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Friends and family were saddened to watch his brave and long struggle with Parkinsons and dementia. A memorial service to celebrate Stephen Cuchel’s life will be held at a later date at Whiting Funeral home in Glen Head, New York. In his memory, contributions can be made to the Nassau County Museum of Art One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor, New York 11576.