Richard Rutter ’58, the founding chair of the graduate orthodontics program at University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, died Sept. 20 in Emerald Hills, California at age 92.

Rutter graduated from Stanford University in 1954, then earned his dental degree from the Dugoni School in 1958 when it was known as the College of Physicians & Surgeons. He went on to teach at his alma mater for 52 years.

He became the first chair of the Graduate Orthodontics Residency Program in 1971, shaping generations of orthodontists with his vision and leadership. At the time, less than half of the orthodontics programs in the country offered graduate degrees.

“Dr. Rutter’s professional legacy is profound,” said Heesoo Oh, a professor and the Frederick T. West Endowed Chair of the Department of Orthodontics. “As the first chair of the orthodontic graduate program, he created the academic curriculum, recruited outstanding clinical faculty and established the culture of excellence and collegiality that continues to define us today.”

Though Rutter set high standards for his students, he was beloved by those he taught.

“He expected you to come to class prepared with an equal passion for orthodontics that he possessed,” said Craig S. Yarborough ’77, ’80, ’99, one of Rutter’s former students and director of the Dugoni School’s Center for Success. “He first appeared very stern and intimidating, but you realized he really did have a heart—though he often played the Tin Man in his fondness for anything related to the ‘Wizard of Oz.’ He was erudite, witty, dry, flippant and you had to keep up with his humor, trying to realize if it really was.” 

Rutter was honored two years ago at a 50th anniversary celebration of the orthodontics program where he received a standing ovation from more than 200 graduates, residents and faculty. After the event, alumni expressed an interest in establishing a fund in Rutter’s honor—the Richard R. Rutter Orthodontic Endowed Scholarship.

“I wanted to honor Dr. Rutter because I very much appreciated his efforts to help put me on a career path that I love,” said former student Greg Wadden ’77 in an interview with the school’s Contact Point magazine. 

Outside of the Dugoni School, Rutter maintained an orthodontics practice in Palo Alto for 25 years.

He was well-known for his unique passions. An avid historian and collector of the “Wizard of Oz,” he once took off in a hot air balloon dressed as the wizard during the book’s centennial celebration, which was featured in a New York Times report in 2000. He also was a member of the Redwood City scion of the Sherlock Holmes Society. 

One of Rutter’s cherished traditions was inviting residents to his home before graduation to share his “Wizard of Oz” and Sherlock Holmes collections.

He is survived by his wife Joanne, daughter Karen Weber, son Jim Rutter, five grandchildren and a great-grandson.

A memorial will be held Friday, Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m. at Menlo Presbyterian Church at 950 Santa Cruz Ave in Menlo Park, California. A Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Chuck Taylor Grove next to the Stanford Stadium.

Gifts in his memory can be made to the Richard R. Rutter Orthodontic Endowed Scholarship.