BERNARD LEVIN, 1924 - 2008
Prosthodontics expert leaves legacy after four-decade career at USC.
7/01/08
By David Peregrino

Bernard Levin, a prosthodontics pioneer who taught at the USC School of Dentistry for more than 40 years, died May 28. He was 84. 

Levin was a 1947 graduate of the University of Illinois School of Dentistry and practiced in Chicago and Albuquerque, N.M.  

Interested in specializing, he came to the USC School of Dentistry in 1962 to enroll in Frank Lott’s two-year program in prosthodontics. 

After graduation, Levin returned to his practice in New Mexico, but his stay there was brief. In early 1966, Levin received an unexpected call from Dean John Ingle. Lott was getting ready to retire, and the dean asked if Levin would be interested in returning to USC to teach. 

Levin said, “Yes,” and followed in his mentor’s footsteps as chair of Removable Prosthodontics. 

It was a decision that would take Levin through a remarkable four-decade educational journey that helped shape the lives and professional careers of countless students and faculty. 

Richard Kahn, associate professor of restorative dentistry, was in his senior year at the school when he first met Levin as a graduate student. 

“Even though he was only in his first year of the residency, he had a great deal of experience from his many years of private practice. He was instrumental in helping me and others in my class learn removable prosthodontics,” Kahn said. 

As a member of the faculty, Levin thrived, helping develop and improve techniques for dentures and other dental prosthetics. He published three books, four teaching manuals and more than 50 articles. He won numerous teaching awards. In 1997, the restorative dentistry faculty created the Bernard Levin Removable Prosthodontics Award in his honor. The award is given to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in partial and complete removable prosthodontics. 

Levin retired from full-time teaching in 1997, but stayed on as a part-timer through 2007. In a 2006 interview with the USC Dentistry magazine, Levin explained his love for helping others learn. 

“When you find a student who is struggling through a particular procedure, when they finally get it, knowing that you helped them is really satisfying,” he said. 

Tae Kim, chair of the Removable Prosthodontics Section, said the loss of Levin will be felt throughout the department and the school. 

“He had taught more than 4,000 students, who became faculty, practitioners and good community members,” Kim said. “Everyone who knew him is heartbroken at the loss of such a great, bright, modest and gracious teacher, friend and mentor.” 

Levin is survived by his wife Kinuyo Levin, brother Louis M. Lenell, sister Evelyn L. Lee, children Judy and Scott and grandchildren Lauren and Alex. Donations may be given in his memory to USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033.