Joseph Dean Robertson DDS, 101, passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2019. He was born June 21, 1917 in Lark, North Dakota. He was Oklahoma’s first pedodontist and had practiced pediatric dentistry in Oklahoma City for 63 years.
One of Oklahoma’s most revered dentists and educators, Dr. Robertson was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and attended the University of Texas where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. After only two years of undergraduate study, he was accepted at Baylor University Dental School graduating in the top ten percentile of his class in 1941.
After a one-year pedodontic residence program at Texas Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps being discharged four years later with the rank of Major.
On September 9, 1944 he married his beloved wife Juanita “Skippy” Lucille Anderson at Frederick Army Air Field in a loving relationship that was to last seventy years.
He later earned a Master’s Degree in Education Summa Cum Laude from the University of Central Oklahoma.
He began his private practice in 1947 and then in 1976 joined the teaching faculty of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. In 1988, at the age of 70, he re-joined his friend and former partner Dr. Don Haskins in private practice and continued until his retirement in June of 2010, 2 weeks shy of his 93rd birthday.
He was past president of the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City, the Southwestern Society of Pedodontists and the Oklahoma State Dental Association. He was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City and later presented the “Heavy Lifting Award” for his dedication to Rotary.
In 1988 the University of Oklahoma School of Dentistry honored Dr. Robertson by establishing, the J. Dean Robertson Society, a private annual support group for the College of Dentistry.
He was the recipient of the Oklahoma Dental Association’s James A. Saddoris Lifetime Achievement Award and the Regents Alumni Award for his numerous contributions to the University of Oklahoma and to his profession.
Dr. Robertson received two Outstanding Clinical Teacher awards and had two Oklahoma University College of Dentistry yearbooks dedicated to him. He was named the Oklahoma Dental Association’s Dentist of the Year.
A championship swimmer at the University of Texas, Dr. Robertson continued his love of swimming and also became a passionate photographer. He was a longtime member of the Mayfair Dance Club.
He had served on the boards of American Fidelity and was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church serving as a Deacon, Elder and Trustee.
He was an avid follower of OU football and FOX News.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Juanita “Skippy”, parents Horace Oakley and Annah Dean Robertson, sister Georgia Helen Robertson and daughters Julie Dean Robertson Leverett and Kathy Lou Robertson Cox.
He is survived by daughters Mirinda Anne Hyde of Oklahoma City and Sally Kern and husband Mickey of Edmond. Grandchildren Anne Cope and husband John of Yuma, AZ, Julia Reigeluth and husband Stuart of Brussels, Belgium, Dr. Joseph Tyler Leverett and wife, Gina, of Gulfport Mississippi, Whitney Dean Elrod and husband, Cory, of New Braunfels, TX; Katie Finley and husband, Dr. Tom of Tulsa; Emily Garrett and husband, Rob of Edmond; Dr. Joseph Bridger Cox and wife Michelle of Oklahoma City; Courtney Cox Davidson and husband, Guy of Savannah, GA.
Great grandchildren are Ava and Julia Cope, Carson, Keegan and Kennedy Leverett, Leverett, Sylvie and Bridger Elrod, Porter, Campbell and Ford Finley, Griffin and Hudson Garrett, Townsend and Anna Louise Davidson. As well as nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The family would like to thank Crystal and Melisha for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church or the J. Dean Robertson Society.
