Charles Meyer Goldstein, a champion of efforts to bring dental care to poor and underserved communities throughout Southern California and beyond, died May 11. He was 87.

His death came one day after he was honored with the first California Dental Association Foundation Humanitarian Award.

“Charlie,” as he preferred to be called, devoted his career to providing access to care for underserved populations, especially the children of California. He spearheaded the creation of the USC School of Dentistry Mobile Clinic, a program that brought dental care to communities throughout the state.

In 1970, he was appointed faculty director of the mobile clinic. One of the first tasks of Goldstein and the dental students he supervised was to provide comprehensive care for the children of migrant farm workers in Central and Southern California.

With just one trailer, portable dental chairs made of cardboard and “The Octopus,” a makeshift dental device created by the students, Goldstein and his team provided 30 weekend clinics in one year. The group treated approximately 250 children each weekend during the early days. Since its inception, the clinic has treated more than 93,000 children.

In an interview with USC Dentistry Magazine shortly before his death, Goldstein said, “When I was in dental school, I thought it would be just wonderful to practice dentistry and not only be able to make a living but take care of people that really needed it and couldn’t afford it.”

In 2000, Goldstein also helped create the USC Dental Clinic at the Union Rescue Mission Downtown on 5th and San Pedro streets to provide care for the homeless.

Harold Slavkin, dean of the School of Dentistry, said Goldstein’s life was dedicated to championing the cause of the poor and working poor of California.

“Through ‘service-learning,’ our residents, dental students and dental hygiene students learned clinical dentistry and experienced the needs of the underserved,” Slavkin said. “Our community outreach programs have become one of the signatures of the USC School of Dentistry.”

Goldstein led the students tirelessly during his 12-year tenure as mobile clinic director. Even after he left the position in 1982, he continued to participate in the mobile clinics until spring 2006. His failing health kept him from physically going on the road, but he stayed up-to-date on daily activities and acted as an adviser.

Jane Caballero, a 2008 DDS graduate, said she grew close to Goldstein after volunteering in the mobile clinic and participating in health fairs.

“I was privileged to get to know him not only as an academic but also as a beautiful human being,” Caballero said. “During these times, I experienced his humble and caring manner of treating people. It was very clear to all of us that he had a beautiful soul. The USC dental community will surely miss him. Again, not just as a faculty member but as a kind human being.”

Santos Cortez Jr., a 1976 graduate of the School of Dentistry, attended the Humanitarian Award presentation at Goldstein’s home May 10.

“Dr. Goldstein has been my close friend and mentor for many years. He has been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to me and all who had the privilege of knowing him,” Cortez said. “He made an impact in so many personal and professional lives. He will be deeply missed.”

Roseann Mulligan, associate dean for Community Health Programs at the School of Dentistry, said she has wonderful memories of working with Goldstein.

“On more than one occasion, we worked side by side in the community, in the 118 degree heat of the San Joaquin Valley, in the construction debris of our almost-finished clinic on Skid Row, or poring over plans for the next community project,” she said.

“We conferred and planned together how we might bring more care to those in need. As is true of many, my time with Charlie began when I was a student long before he recruited me to join the School of Dentistry faculty in 1983. He has been my mentor and my friend ever since.”

Mona Iskandar, dental director of the St. John’s Well Child and Family Center in Los Angeles, met Goldstein in 1986 when she applied for a job as a dental assistant at his practice.

“Ever since then, he was ‘the wind beneath my wings,’ ” Iskandar said. “He mentored me as he did thousands of other students. Charlie is the reason so many of us still practice community dentistry.”

Goldstein earned his DDS from the University of California at San Francisco in 1944 and was assigned to the U.S. Navy training station at Farragut, Idaho.

He opened and maintained a private practice in Santa Monica for 26 years before becoming the senior partner and co-founder of a group practice in Los Angeles from which he retired in 1983.

He first became involved with USC in 1959 when he was appointed a part-time member of the School of Dentistry’s periodontal faculty. He served as a professor of clinical faculty in the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Epidemiology and served as director of Community Outreach Programs.

After receiving the Humanitarian Award, Goldstein was asked if he had any unfinished work.

He said his life was full of remarkable love and respect for his family, children and grandchildren and the thousands of dental students and faculty and patients that he has had in his life.

He was very content with “a life well-lived.” His only remaining wish was to establish a $4 million endowment for the operations of the mobile clinic. During the last two months of his life, he had been working to achieve that goal.

In lieu of flowers, friends and colleagues can consider making a gift in Goldstein’s memory to the USC Mobile Clinic Fund.

Goldstein is survived by his brother Mort and sister Clara; children Jeffrey, Jonathan, Judith and Joel; eight grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

Donations to the USC Mobile Clinic Fund can be sent to the USC School of Dentistry, 925 W. 34th Street, Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90089.