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IN MEMORIAM
Raymond L. Kim, a former member
of the school’s fixed prosthodontic faculty, died August 7
of cancer at the age of 73. A native of Korea, Kim earned his
D.D.S. degree in 1965 and a M.S.D. in 1970, both from Indiana
University. Soon after completion of his masters, Harvey
Coleman, then department chair, recruited him to join the USC
faculty as an assistant professor. He remained a valued member
of the faculty until his retirement in the mid-1980s.
As Coleman recalled for the
Dental Alumni Association’s centenniel history book, “Ray’s
background in dental ceramics was an important adjunct to our
program as we introduced PFM restorations on a broader scale.”
Kim served as director of clinical fixed prosthodontics during
Patrick Walker’s tenure as chairman. Admired for his talent
and meticulous work, Kim was highly regarded by colleagues and
students alike.
His interest in dental
education extended to Japan where he helped to create study
clubs, lectured, organized speaker series and developed
manuscripts and manuals. The fact that several Japanese
colleagues traveled from Japan for his funeral testified to
the impact of his work there. In her eulogy, close friend and
colleague Peggy Tsutsui noted, “If one listened to him, you
would recognize that he truly was a Renaissance man—for his
knowledge, the breadth and depth of his continual quest for
understanding of contemporary dentistry, languages, history,
heritage, religion and people.”
Kim maintained a prosthodontic
practice in Torrance, California. He is survived by his wife,
Jean; his daughters, Annette and Christine; sons-in-law Bob
and William; and grandchildren, Connor and Julia.
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