Uhl Donovan, DDS, emeritus associate professor of adult restorative dentistry, died June 27 in Rapid City, South Dakota. He was 92. Dr. Donovan was a faculty member at the UNMC College of Dentistry from 1973 until his retirement in 1992. He continued to contribute to the college as a guest presenter for several years after his retirement.
“He made a positive impact on countless clinicians in Nebraska and beyond,” said Julie Marshall, DDS, associate dean for education.
Yosh Ameku, DDS, clinical assistant professor of adult restorative dentistry, was among them. He recalled seeing his old teacher for the last time when Dr. Donovan visited the UNMC College of Dentistry last year.
“The word spread of his arrival, and many of us converged and greeted Dr. Donovan. It was almost like an Elvis sighting, and our students were curious about this elderly man in the wheelchair,” Dr. Ameku said.
“It was an emotional moment for me as I recalled the early morning coffee sessions in the graduate clinic as well as discussing the direction of dental education.”
Dr. Ameku said he considers himself, with Dr. Marshall, to be “the stewards of Dr. Donovan’s legacy.”
“We were tasked to teach the crown and bridge course for the past 28 years to the next generation of dentists here at the college of dentistry,” he said.
Dr. Donovan grew up in Missouri and was the first in his family to go to college. He opened a dental practice in Deadwood, South Dakota, then moved to Kansas City, where he attended graduate school and served on faculty at his dental alma mater, the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
His next move was to Nebraska, where he spent two decades. He was well known for his passion in educating dental students – and, for his artistic abilities.
Dr. Ameku said Dr. Donovan encouraged his students to bring a sense of artistry to their dental work. Dr. Donovan’s own favorite artist was the great Western painter and sculptor Charles Russell. “He described the details of (Russell’s) paintings along with his aesthetic dental cases,” Dr. Ameku said.
“He was truly one of a kind.”
Upon retirement, Dr. Donovan and his wife, Nancy, a nurse who was well known in Lincoln, retired to the Black Hills region of South Dakota. They traveled extensively.
Dr. Donovan’s obituary said, “Uhl lived a very active life, his body wore out, and he finally gave in to it.”
I knew Dr. Donovan only as our prosthetics instructor, but his video shows an American life well lived…Boy Scout, Dental Officer, Husband. Father, Grandfather and Mentor to many!
Uhl’s artistry continued into retirement. He was a master wood carver with many exquisite pieces. Whatever this man did, he did with a sense of pride and dignity.The earth lost a great “old soul”.
I was one of Dr. Donovan’s students
At the Dental College UNL
He taught me very well
Where there is a will
There is a way
Where there is no will
There is no way
He was master of the high speed drill
He was the King of the hill
Of amalgam core pin buildup in his day
Some how some way
His will and his skill and his way
Became my will and my skill and my way
Thanks to Dr. Donovan
In 1973, I think it was probably Dr. Donovan’s first preclinical lab course that he taught at our College of Dentistry. And subsequently he was there in the Crown and Bridge Clinic every day. It was a memorable experience.
Dr. T. E. Heuke Class of 1976