Richard Alan Kraut, D.D.S., a pioneering oral surgeon, educator, and former chairman of dentistry at Montefiore Medical Center, died peacefully on January 5, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 83 years old. The cause was adenocarcinoma, which he had battled for more than a year.

Dr. Kraut was a devoted father and a formative force in academic dentistry, whose influence extended across generations of clinicians. Over a career spanning decades, he helped shape one of the nation’s most respected hospital-based dental programs and mentored thousands of dental students and residents who went on to lead practices and institutions of their own. As he recently shared with one of his graduates, "The mentor's success is how the mentored succeeded."  His residents were what the specialty could be proud of.

A graduate of Hobart College and the New York University College of Dentistry, Dr. Kraut served in the United States Army for 20 years, retiring as a colonel in 1988. He joined Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx shortly thereafter and remained there for more than three decades. As chairman of dentistry for over 20 years, he emphasized clinical excellence, rigorous training, and a belief that dentistry is both a science and a calling of service.

An accomplished academic, Dr. Kraut authored hundreds of scholarly articles and was an early president of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He travelled the world training clinicians on safe and effective dental implantology. During his tenure at Montefiore, he also held a full professorship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Outside his profession, Dr. Kraut was a thoughtful and intellectually curious man, known for his sharp mind and dry wit. A lifelong Yankees fan, he attended games in nearly every major league ballpark. Richard had a true wanderlust that he shared with family and friends, having visited every continent. Among his favorite trips were scuba dives and safaris, including a safari as recently as July 2025.

Dr. Kraut was preceded in death by his wife, Karen Rebecca Clarke-Kraut; his son, Jordan Robert; and his parents, Diana and Jack Kraut. He is survived by his son, Jeremy Kraut-Ordover (Calvin Goetz); a daughter-in law, Christine Clarke; three grandchildren, Daniel, Natalie, and Shannon; and his significant other, Diane Cottrell.

Celebrations of Dr. Kraut’s life will be announced in Lawrence, KS and New York. The family requests no flowers. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Richard Kraut Oral Surgery Scholarship Fund at Montefiore Medical Center via http://bit.ly/DrKraut     A memorial website to leave messages and photographs is available at https://everloved.com/memoria…

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