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Harold Slavkin Obituary
Hal was born in Chicago and moved to California at age three, first to the Bay Area and then to Los Angeles. He was not sure of his path after graduation from Hamilton High School. The father of a friend told him he could learn a trade in the Army. So he enlisted and trained to be a dental lab technician. That skill helped him earn money that enabled him to enroll in USC as an English major and then as a dental student.
After a few years practicing dentistry, he realized he wanted to make a bigger difference than he could serving individual patients. He joined the faculty of USC in 1968. His focus shifted to research and a quest to prevent birth defects such as cleft lip. He did not want anyone to suffer in that way. He created the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at USC. He was named Director of the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research in 1995 in Bethesda, Maryland. His leadership led to the first Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health in America. He returned to LA and was appointed Dean of the USC School of Dentistry in 2000 and served until 2008.
He was a prolific author of books, journal articles, and research papers. Over his career he received countless national and international honors. He was one of the founders of the Santa Fe Group, an action-oriented think tank seeking solutions to improve oral health. He was an exceptional teacher and public speaker, with a gift for making complex scientific concepts interesting and engaging.
He was a generous colleague and mentor, always going out of his way to offer support, guidance, and opportunity to others.
He loved sailing, movies, reading about history, Langers' pastrami, watching tennis, and spoiling his dog Molly.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lois, his sister Leslie Stevens (Craig) , sons Mark (Debbie) and Todd (Tali), and stepchildren Michael Eveloff (Anne) and Tracy Foster (David). He was the very proud grandfather of Max (Erin), Samantha (Patrick), Eli, Maya (Daniel), Cami, Ryan, Brooke, and Lauren. He was thrilled he was able to have met his three great grandsons Noah, Charlie, and Theo.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donation in Hal's honor to The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health www.thelatrust.org/donate
The family plans a celebration of life early in 2024.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Harold Slavkin
Dr Glen Tistaert
March 17, 2025
I cannot believe it has now been a year, since you died on me, & I was contributing to your Obituary.
Linda Sharpe Bowen
January 26, 2024
My deepest sympathy to Hal´s wonderful family. He truly left this world a better place. I´m forever grateful for having such an amazing mentor in my life. With peace and love to Lois and family,
Linda Sharpe Bowen
James Simmer and Jan Hu
January 11, 2024
Hal Slavkin had the greatest and most contagious enthusiasm for science of anyone I have ever seen. He created the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB), which was a perfect environment for excitement--from its architecture to the outstanding scientists he recruited. As a post-doc mentored by Hal, I was working on expressing recombinant amelogenin and discovering alternatively spliced amelogenin transcripts. This required critical contributions from the outstanding scientists there. I told Hal I needed some expensive new equipment. He didn´t hesitate even though he was always pursuing unlimited projects with limited funds. I eloped with another of Hal´s post-docs (Jan Hu). We were both far from home. Hal threw a dinner celebration for us. He really felt like a father to us.
Jim Simmer and Jan Hu
Thimios Mitsiadis
January 11, 2024
Rest in peace Hal! You have done so many valuable things in your life and you have inspired many people. You were and still are a motivation for colleagues. Thank you for everything you have done to promote our field.
Photo of Hal in 1977
Bob Shuken
January 11, 2024
My condolences to Lois and the family. I have known Hal for over 60 years beginning as dental students at USC long before his legendary accomplishments and contributions to dentistry were actualized. I consider my life long dear friend Hal Slavkin to be the embodiment of all that is kind, pure and compassionate in the human spirit.
María Angélica Torres-Quintana
January 10, 2024
Buen viaje, gran maestro, visionario y pionero de la investigación craneofacial y odontológica. Sus enseñanzas estan y estarán siempre en nuestros espíritus.
Have a good trip, great teacher, visionary and pioneer of craniofacial and dental research. His teachings are and will always be in our spirits.
Irving Shapiro
January 9, 2024
Aptly called Hal by his friends, colleagues and family, he was a Shakespearean-like individual, a prince amongst men. He was an individual: a person of high intellect, charisma, charm, knowledge and extraordinary creativity who with a twinkle in his eye, and a humorous quip on his tongue brought people together to work and think creatively for the common good. Like Prince Hal, he will be missed but surely not forgotten. Joan and Irving Shapiro (Philadelphia)
Maggie Zeichner-David
January 3, 2024
My heartfelt condolences to the family on the passing of Hal, a man, a friend a teacher, and a mentor who left behind such a significant legacy. The impact he has left on thousands of lives is a testament to the depth of his character and the positive influence he had on those around him. May you find comfort in the enduring legacy he leaves behind, and may the memories of his remarkable contributions bring solace during this difficult time. My thoughts are with you and all of those touched by his extraordinary life.
Rebecca Dudovitz
January 3, 2024
Hal was such an inspiration. I feel truly blessed to have met him. He was driven to make the world a healthier, more just place for children and their families but always did so with positivity and compassion. An amazing role model. I will carry his memory with me. Thank you to the Slavkin family for sharing him with all of us!
Maryjane Puffer
January 3, 2024
Hal was so important to me. He was a mentor and also a father figure who gave his time to me in such a generous way.
In 2013, he became a board member for The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health. He helped to guide the staff in addressing the oral health crisis through a system wide approach to screening and treament for LA County's most vulnerable children. With Hal, we created a district wide oral health initiative aiming to screen all kindergarten children, so they could be referred to dental homes. The work is ongoing and the strategies that Hal helped us build still working.
I am so grateful to have been influenced by this great man. He was my true friend. He was always focused on the mission to improve health for all.
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS, FADHA
January 2, 2024
This is a tremendous loss for the oral health community, as well as to Dr. Slavkin's family and friends. He contributed much to dentistry, dental research, and oral health in general. Condolences to his wife, children, family and friends. Maria Perno Goldie
Juanita Davis
January 2, 2024
Hal was one of the nicest, most helpful people in our Plato Society. His death is a great loss.
Dr Glen Tistaert
December 31, 2023
Dr Hal Slavkin was a classmate of mine, at USC Dental School, in a class of 88 students (number left at graduation). Hal was a one-off person. They talk about breaking the mold, after something is built, but in his case, you wondered where the mold came from in the first place? He was so alive, so active, so articulated, it is difficult to believe he has died. It is a considerable loss. In School, our human anatomy dissecting manual was the epitome for inducing narcolepsy, yet Hal would read & memorize it & come in to the lab the next day & recite, like a lecturer -- exactly where the group was to cut & what they were to find. He was a different being that seemed always devoted to Lois. Glen 12-31-23
Fred Lee
December 31, 2023
I first met Dr. Slavkin and Mrs. Slavkin, when I master ceremony the ADA annual session in Washington DC and NIH Oral Health / Dental celebration major milestone lecture. And many years later I had a similar chance to visit his laboratory and transplanted team of scientists at NIH with my daughter Jessica, who is also like me a pediatric dentist. You will be missed.
Bruce Lilly DDS
December 31, 2023
Dr. Slavkin was one of my dental school instructors that I really admired and was inspired by. He made everything interesting and fun! I got to know him a bit - he even came and spoke to my Kiwanis Club, and invited me to a presentation at CCMB. He provided the example of the caring, giving, professional that I have tried to emulate ever since.
Martin Kozak(Cohen)
December 31, 2023
Handsome and talented ,but he couldn't carry a tune.
Arlet Arratoonian
December 28, 2023
Deeply Saddened by this news. He will be missed.
Richard Green
December 26, 2023
He will be missed! He was a big influence in my life and important to USC and Alpha Omega!
Sandi Bolivar
December 26, 2023
I am beyond sad - but feel blessed to have known him and to have worked with him.
Gary Harmatz
December 23, 2023
Hal Slavkin has made a huge difference in so many lives, including mine. His contributions to dentistry and dentists around the world will continue to be felt for many years. Not only as a scholar, a teacher and a mentor, he was a real gentleman. He cared about people.
Hal, we will miss you.
Gary and Susan Harmatz
Richard Kahn
December 23, 2023
Hal had a very profound positive impact on dentistry, science, USC School of Dentistry and society. He will be missed.
Richard and Judy Kahn
Rena Korb
December 22, 2023
What a mensch. Many condolences for your loss.
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