When the AIDS epidemic came to light in the United States in the early 1980s and little was known about how the disease spread, dentists were frightened, and many refused to treat patients suffering from it.

Not Arthur Robbins.

Not only did the longtime Denver dentist welcome those with HIV and AIDS to his practice, he was one of the founders of Howard Dental Center, which opened in Park Hill in 1994 specifically to provide oral health care to people with the disease. He continued to contribute funds and volunteer there regularly until his own health began to fail earlier this year.

Dr. Robbins died of cancer July 2. He was 74.

"To put together a clinic that served people with HIV was very radical at the time," said Felicia Diamond, executive director of Howard Dental Center, which today has a paid staff of 10. "Dentists were frightened because they didn't know how the disease was contracted. Now we know it's safe for dentists to work on that patient population, but then they weren't sure. To my mind, Dr. Robbins and the dentists who founded Howard were real medical heroes because they put themselves on the line and treated people who needed care."

Dr. Robbins was born April 17, 1934, in Denver to Dr. Milton L. and Flora Robbins. He graduated from East High School and the University of Denver and originally intended to pursue a career in journalism. His father talked him into dental school instead, and eventually the two opened a practice together.

Dentistry became Dr. Robbins' driving passion in life.

"Dentistry and photography - those were his hobbies," said his son Harold Robbins, of Denver. "He'd take pictures of patients when they came in and again when he finished on them, and he loved to be able to see the remarkable difference he could make."

"Art's patients knew that beyond his superb technical skills, his greatest asset was his genuine interest in them and their families," said Dr. Robbins' sister, Harriett Radetsky, of Denver.

"His love for Howard Denver Center was unlike anything I've ever seen," Harold Robbins said. "And as a child, I sure went to a lot of meetings of the Academy of General Dentistry."

Dr. Robbins had no choice but to drag his two sons to a lot of professional meetings. He was a single father for many years. In 1960, he married Elinor Sue Leven. She died in 1970, at age 34, leaving behind her husband and two small boys.

"Raising his sons as a single father was a great challenge for Art, but nothing in his life was more important to him," his sister said.

Over the years, Dr. Robbins participated in many professional dental organizations, including serving on the board of directors of the Academy of General Dentistry and the International College of Dentists. He also was a former president of the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society. That group gave Dr. Robbins its highest honor, the Honus Maximum Award, in 1985.

"It was for his humanitarianism, his care for his patients," said Terri Gilpin, the organization's executive director. "He exemplified that in the way he lived."

Dr. Robbins also is survived by his son Andrew and a granddaughter, Ashley Robbins, both of Denver.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, 1800 15th St., Denver, CO 80202.