Remembering Drs. Coker, Barrett, and Shaye
LSUSD sadly notes the recent deaths of three retired faculty members, Drs. Robert Coker, Ronald Barrett, and Robert Shaye, who all joined LSUSD shortly after the school’s creation and contributed significantly to its development.
Robert Clyde Coker, DDS, MA, MPH, passed away on March 7, 2017, at the age of 80. After graduating from Loyola University School of Dentistry in 1959, he spent two years in the Navy Dental Corps and 12 years in private practice. An ardent follower of the Bass Method of Oral Hygiene, Dr. Coker came to LSUSD in 1973 as head of the Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry. In 1976 he was among the first group of LSUSD faculty to earn a master's in education from the University of New Orleans. He was named director of clinics in 1977 and subsequently became associate dean for academic affairs. He retired from the dental school in 1996 as professor of operative dentistry. Dr. Coker served as president of the Louisiana Academy of General Dentistry and the C. Edmund Kells Dental Study Group of New Orleans. He was also a fellow of the American College of Dentists and a member of the C. Victor Vignes Odontological Society. A resident of St. Amant, Louisiana, he is survived by his wife Michele, two daughters and three stepdaughters, 25 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.
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Robert Coker, DDS., MA, MPH
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Ronald Anthony Barrett, Sr., DDS, MS, MEd, passed away on Monday, April 24, 2017, at the age of 80. After graduating from Loyola University School of Dentistry, he earned a master's and fellowship in oral medicine from the University of Alabama, followed by a master's of education from the University of New Orleans. Prior to his career as a dentist, he served in the U.S. Navy as a submariner and in the U.S. Air Force as an aviation cadet. Following his military service, Dr. Barrett worked as a marine biologist for Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. A member of the founding faculty of LSUSD in 1968, he was instrumental in the planning, design, and orchestration of funding for the construction of the LSU School of Dentistry. During his 37 years at the dental school, he served in the departments of oral diagnosis/medicine/radiology and general dentistry, while maintaining a private general dental practice in Metairie. Dr. Barrett was a diplomate of the American Board of Oral Medicine. He retired from LSUSD in 2004 as professor emeritus. He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughter Karen, son Ronald Jr; and 11 grandchildren.
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Ronald Barrett, Sr., DDS, MS, MEd
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Robert Shaye, DDS, DMD, passed away on April 12, 2017, at the age of 79. A native of Connecticut, he earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut and his DDS from New York University. Following his graduation from dental school, he served in the United States Army on active duty with the 86th Medical Detachment in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, and with the United States Army Hospital at West Point. He went on to complete his orthodontic training, receiving his doctorate of medical dentistry from the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Shaye spent one year at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry before joining LSUSD. He also continued his military service in the Army Reserves with the 4010th U.S. Army Hospital in New Orleans. He retired from the military in 1996, as a colonel with 41 years of service. Upon retiring from LSU in 1995, Dr. Shaye became chairman of the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He retired from UMMC in 2012, with the honor of professor emeritus from both LSU and UMMC. He is survived by his wife Baerbel, daughters Alexandra and Natalie, and six grandchildren.
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