Cyril I. Evian, GD ’79, D’81, a periodontist specializing in dental implants and a former professor at the University of Pennsylvania, died on January 26 at the age of 68.

Dr. Evian was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and earned a bachelor of dental surgery from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He earned a doctor of dental medicine degree from Penn in 1981 and joined Penn’s faculty that year. 

He established his private practice in King Of Prussia in 1986 and became a clinical professor of periodontics in the School of Dental Medicine in 1997. He became director of the department of graduate periodontics and implant dentistry, and was interim chairman of the department of periodontics from 2001-2005.

Dr. Evian joined Penn’s 25-Year Club in 2003 (Almanac November 4, 2003).

He received Penn’s Coslet Award of Excellence in Teaching in 1989 and Penn Dental’s J. George Coslet Distinguished Teaching Award in 2003.

Throughout his career he was also a clinical professor at the University of Maryland, a faculty member at New York University and a clinical professor at Temple University.

He is survived by his former wife, Andrea; children, Allon Hellmann, Samantha E. Zemble, Tracy Waasdorp, Debra Chesbrough and Michael; nine grandchildren; and two brothers.

Dr. Evian’s children established an education fund to benefit dental students who share his passion for higher education but lack the funds to pursue it. Information on the fund is available at http://cyrilevian.org 

Memorial donations may be made to the Colon Cancer Alliance, www.ccalliance.org