Jeffrey E. Kanner, 64, a dentist and coach in problem-solving competitions

Jeffrey E. Kanner, 64, of Yardley, a dentist who coached young people in problem-solving competitions, died of multiple myeloma Wednesday, Aug. 18, at St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown Township.

In 1972, Dr. Kanner joined a Levittown dental practice. The office moved to Langhorne in 1984. For many years, he also worked at the Statesman Health and Rehabilitation Center in Levittown.

Though Dr. Kanner battled cancer for more than eight years, undergoing two stem-cell transplants, he was able to practice until last year, said his wife, Linda Silberberg Kanner.

After retiring, he drove cancer patients to appointments and volunteered at American Red Cross blood drives. He was a longtime blood donor before becoming ill.

For 25 years, Dr. Kanner was a volunteer with the Odyssey of the Mind program, in which students work on technical projects for a school year and then demonstrate them at competitions. In the 1980s, he was a coach for the program in the Pennsbury School District. In 1989, his team, which included his son, Jason, tied for fifth place among 37 other teams at a world competition in Boulder, Colo.

The challenge was to build a small car. The Pennsbury project incorporated the team's version of a story in which Sesame Street characters were stranded on Gilligan's Island, Jason Kanner said.

Dr. Kanner was a creative coach, Jason Kanner said, and, as a dentist and the son of a carpenter, he was good with his hands.

After his son graduated, Dr. Kanner continued to volunteer with Odyssey of the Mind.

Dr. Kanner was a graduate of Adelphi University and the Temple University School of Dentistry. He served in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1970 to 1972.

He and his wife grew up on the same street in Brooklyn, N.Y., and married in 1969. He was an avid golfer, skier, cyclist, Eagles and Phillies fan, and world traveler, his wife said.

The couple had been members of Congregation Shir Ami in Newtown since 1982.

In addition to his wife and son, Dr. Kanner is survived by a daughter, Lisa; a sister; and two grandsons.

A funeral will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose.