Robert Golden, a University of the Pacific alumnus who taught at his alma mater for three decades, died August 4 at his Alameda, California home. He was 75.

Golden earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 1979 and immediately joined the school’s Department of Operative Dentistry as a preclinical instructor.

He was well known in the dental school for the attention and care he provided to students and patients.

“Dr. Bob Golden was my beloved instructor who taught me not only the foundations of operative dentistry, but also how to embrace and care for patients,” said Debra Woo, assistant professor at the Dugoni School. “His no-nonsense style and sense of humor made him the faculty member I chose to work with on the clinic floor.

“Upon graduation, that relationship grew into a friendship I will treasure forever. Bob’s humbleness and selfless dedication made him a true model of humanistic excellence—a teacher, colleague and friend whose light will always stay with me.”

During his 30 years at the Dugoni School, Golden went on to become an early group practice leader and eventually a master clinician. His colleagues describe him as “prodigiously talented and hard-working.”

“His modest, get-it-done-well ethic made him a true model of Dugoni’s first principle of humanistic excellence,” said Gene LaBarre, clinical associate professor at the Dugoni School. “For those of us fortunate to be Bob’s colleagues in dental education, his infectious exuberance for work of any description, ingenuity for practical solutions and exceptional mechanical facility will be missed.”
 

Outside of Pacific, Golden had an active dental practice in downtown Oakland, where he provided oral health care to the community for 40 years until retiring in 2020.

Golden is survived by his wife Christine, daughters Eryn and Hilary and grandsons Alec and Austin.

A memorial service will take place Sunday, Oct. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Pleasant Hill Community Center. Attendees are asked to RSVP.