Services were held for Robert J. Klaus, PhD, 71, who died on Saturday, October 24. He was the former president and CEO of Oral Health America (OHA), where he worked for 20 years before retiring in 2008.
According to the OHA, Dr. Klaus played an instrumental role in fostering a national dialogue about the importance of oral health. During his tenure, the group established Smiles Across America and the National Spit Tobacco Education Project. The OHA also says that his dedication, leadership, and public service established the groundwork for advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations.
Kathy Zweig, former board chair at OHA, says that he was “someone who endured much to get the message about health equity across to anyone who would listen. To Robert, this work was vital, and failure was not an option.”
Dr. Klaus first joined OHA in 1988 when it was known as America’s Fund for Dental Education and focused on raising funds for dental education and research. Under his leadership, OHA reorganized in 1994 to raise public awareness of the importance of oral health to overall health through national education and communication programs.
His work was recognized by the Dr. Edward B. Shils Entrepreneurial Education Fund. Dr. Klaus also garnered a Special Friend Award from Special Olympics/Special Smiles and received a 2007 Distinction in Public Service Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
“Robert Klaus’ contributions on behalf of oral health have made a difference for individuals throughout the country,” said Peter Anas, executive director of NIDCR, in 2007. “He has approached oral health from multiple angles, from tobacco control to issues affecting children, seniors, and people with disabilities, to dental education, and oral health’s impact on overall health.”
Additionally, Klaus founded the Oral Health 2000 Initiative public health education program with former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop, the Campaign for Oral Health Parity, and the National Periodontal Disease Coalition. He supported the creation of Special Olympics Special Smiles as well.
Before he joined OHA, Dr. Klaus was executive director of the Illinois Humanities Council. He also worked for the Iowa Humanities Board. And, he taught history at the University of Iowa and philanthropy at Northwestern University. He received his PhD in history from the University of Iowa.
After retiring from OHA, Dr. Klaus joined the board of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, where he forged a relationship with the Field Museum of Chicago to develop the Wapello Native American site in Hanover, Ill.
Dr. Klaus is survived by his wife, Joan; his children, Christian Klaus, Liz Ategou, and Conor Klaus; his siblings, Virginia Riordan, Jack Klaus, Mary Sheridan, and Charles Klaus; and 7 grandchildren.
Donations may be sent to the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, 126 N. Main St., P.O. Box 216, Elizabeth, Ill 61028-0216 or to the Galena Center for the Arts, 219 Summit St., Galena, Ill 61036.
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