Philip H. Ruben DDS

1938 - 2022

June 9, 1938 - October 10, 2022 Dr. Philip Hirsch Ruben, DDS, incredibly loving and giving husband, father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, mentor, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on October 10, 2022 at the age of 84. Philip was born on June 9, 1938 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1959, completing his undergraduate studies in three years, and Pitt's Dental School in 1963, and completed post-graduate work at the University of Southern California Dental School. He practiced dentistry for almost 60 years, specializing in prosthodontics, and taught at USC's Dental School, donating his time for over 25 years.

After graduating from Dental School, he served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy Dental Corps, stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. In 1964, he married the love of his life, Elaine Kessler, who flew to Saigon to marry him. It was in Saigon where they began their life, which included the love of travel throughout the world. After Saigon, they were stationed in San Diego. Ultimately, Elaine and Phil moved to Los Angeles and were residents of Beverly Hills for over 50 years. Phil's second home was his office at 9201 Sunset Blvd. also for over 50 years. It was here overlooking the Hollywood Hills, with his wife Elaine as the office manager, that Phil created some of the most famous smiles on the small and big screen of Hollywood, but also those of writers, directors, composers, athletes, and the like. Although Phil became known as the "Dentist to the Stars," it was not who his patients were that made him known, but who he was: caring, gentle, talented, an incredible conversationalist and storyteller. Many of his patients became lifelong friends; for many he became their confidant.

Phil and Elaine were adventurous travelers. Through their years together they visited incredible places like the Arctic, India, Japan, China, many countries in Africa, Russia, the Amazon, Alaska, the Galápagos Islands, most of Europe, and countless trips to their family favorite destinations of Yosemite National Park and Maui. Phil also enjoyed countless antique car rallies with his 1910 Buick throughout California, and the lifelong dream of bringing his 1904 curved-dash Oldsmobile to participate with his son Jason in the London to Brighton Car Run in the UK became a reality.

Phil was a renaissance man, multitalented with vast interests. He collected antique cars (he could often be seen driving around Beverly Hills in them), spending countless hours restoring the cars himself; loved the challenge of fixing or building just about anything; devoured literature and non-fiction until the very end of his life; and loved art, science, history, the natural world, politics, finance, and sports (he was passionate about his Dodgers and Trojans and, of course, the Steelers).

Phil's greatest gift and passion was mentoring others and imparting the work ethic and value of education at his core. He spent his years quietly taking people under his wing and derived great pleasure in watching them achieve their dreams. He was also a wonderful friend to many of his children's friends, enjoying time welcoming them to his home, sharing sporting events together, and camping and river rafting over the years with them. Phil was philanthropic, supporting various causes from cancer research to educational and Jewish charities, but it was the endless hours and generosity devoted to individually changing the lives of others that was most important to him.

Phil's greatest joy and priority were his children and grandchildren. He cherished nothing more than time together, whether in Beverly Hills, New York, Mill Valley or their annual family holiday in Maui.

Phil will be deeply missed every day by his daughter Jill Ruben Franco and husband Michael J. Franco of New York City; son Dr. Jason Ruben and wife Bria Ruben of Mill Valley, CA; grandchildren Katherine and Lauren Franco and Cole and Ethan Ruben; as well as his sisters and brothers-in-law, as well as nieces and nephew.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, October 12 at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the MarinHealth Medical Center Department of Emergency Department (www.mymarinhealth.org/foundation, select the Emergency Department) or The Michael J. Fox Foundation (www.michaeljfox.org).