Obituaries

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AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Robert F. Baker

Dr. Baker (Ohio State ’42), 96, Wapakoneta, Ohio, died April 23, 2014. A mixed animal practitioner, he owned Baker Animal Hospital in Cridersville, Ohio, from 1963 until retirement in 1980. Earlier in his career, Dr. Baker owned a practice in Spencerville, Ohio; consulted with Fort Dodge Laboratories; and directed veterinary research at Abbott Laboratories in Chicago. He served on The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Admissions Committee and was a member of the Ohio VMA and Lima Area Academy of Small Animal Medicine.

In 1994, The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Alumni Society honored Dr. Baker with an Alumni Recognition Award. That same year, he received the Outstanding Award from the Ohio Animal Health Foundation.

Dr. Baker’s two sons and three daughters, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren survive him. His daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Ann Baker (Ohio State ’77) and Fred Ryan (Kansas State ’76), are veterinarians in Cridersville.

Clinton J. Chew Jr.

Dr. Chew (Auburn ’77), 65, Pensacola, Florida, died March 14, 2014. A small animal practitioner, he owned Ferry Pass Animal Hospital in Pensacola since 1980. Dr. Chew also served as veterinarian for Rowe’s Orphanage for Cats and Kittens in Pensacola. Early in his career, he worked as a veterinarian for the state of Florida and practiced at Brent Wood Animal Hospital in Pensacola.

Dr. Chew was a past president of the Humane Society of Pensacola. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two daughters; and four grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Rowe’s Orphanage for Cats and Kittens, 2191 Bush St., Pensacola, FL 32534.

Murray E. Fowler

Dr. Fowler (Iowa State ’55), 85, Davis, California, died May 18, 2014. Professor emeritus of zoological medicine at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine since 1991, he was a founding member of the American College of Zoological Medicine, a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, and a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology.

Dr. Fowler began his career practicing large animal medicine in California’s San Fernando Valley, working with Thoroughbreds and movie animals. In 1958, he joined the UC-Davis veterinary school as an instructor of large animal surgery. Initially focusing on equine medicine, Dr. Fowler took over as chief of the university’s zoological medicine service in 1967, establishing the country’s first residency program in zoological medicine, teaching courses dedicated to the health of captive and free-roaming wildlife, and forging strong relationships with local zoos.

During his tenure at the university, he also chaired the Department of Clinical Sciences. Dr. Fowler served as Sacramento Zoo veterinarian from 1967-1992 and edited the Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine from 1978-1987. He was a past president of the Sacramento Zoological Society and American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, a past member of the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties, and a trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation.

Dr. Fowler authored one of the earliest textbooks on zoo animal health, now “Fowler’s Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine,” and authored the textbook “Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids.”

He was a member of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Wildlife Disease Association, California VMA, and International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine. Dr. Fowler was also an honorary member of the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians and a member of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, East African Wildlife Society, and Association of Avian Veterinarians.

In 1995, he received the inaugural California-International Llama Association Murray Fowler Award for his work in llama and alpaca medicine and the AAZV Emil P. Dolensek Award. Dr. Fowler was honored with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums R. Marlin Perkins Award and AVMA Animal Welfare Award in 2002. In 2006, the Sacramento Zoo dedicated the Dr. Murray E. Fowler Veterinary Hospital in honor of his lifelong contributions to zoological medicine and animal health. He was also the past recipient of the UC-Davis Outstanding Teacher Award, ISU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Stange Memorial Alumni Award, Maagizo Davis Award for Outstanding Service to the Sacramento Zoo, and Parke Davis Veterinary Award for Outstanding Contributions to Zoological Medicine.

Dr. Fowler was active with the Boy Scouts of America and was honored with the Silver Bear and Silver Beaver service awards. He served in the Navy during World War II. Dr. Fowler’s wife, Audrey; a son and three daughters; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren survive him.

Memorials may be made to Sacramento Zoological Society, Attn: Development Department, 3930 W. Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822.

Joan C. Henderson

Dr. Henderson (Florida ’85), 56, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, died May 30, 2014. An equine practitioner, she was the founder of Henderson Veterinary Associates in Elizabethtown. Dr. Henderson was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. She is survived by her husband, Dr. W. Boyd Henderson (Pennsylvania ’82), a large animal practitioner at Henderson Veterinary Associates, and two daughters.

Memorials may be made to Capitol Area Therapeutic Riding Association, P.O. Box 339, Grantville, PA 17028 or Cornerstone Youth Center, 95 S. Wilson Ave., Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

Donald J. McDermith

Dr. McDermith (Texas A&M ’51), 86, Summersville, Missouri, died June 11, 2014. Prior to retirement in 1997, he owned a large animal practice in Summersville for 20 years. Earlier in his career, Dr. McDermith owned a mixed animal practice in Nokomis, Illinois. He also maintained a herd of Angus cattle for 34 years.

Dr. McDermith served as veterinarian and was a past president of the Illinois Angus Association. He was also a past president of the South Central Illinois Angus Association, Central Illinois VMA, Illinois Beef Improvement Federation, and Nokomis and Summersville Saddle clubs. Dr. McDermith was a member of the American Angus Association, American Quarter Horse Association, and Missouri Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his wife, Jerri-Anne; a stepson; five grandchildren and a step-grandchild: six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Pamela L. Routly

Dr. Routly (Florida ’85), 57, Bethesda, Maryland, died June 16, 2014. A small animal practitioner, she worked part time in Waldorf, Maryland, and at the Humane Society of Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland. Dr. Routly also volunteered at the Montgomery County Humane Society for several years and was named Veterinarian of the Year in 2012. Earlier in her career, she practiced at Banfield, The Pet Hospital, in Chase, Maryland.

Memorials in Dr. Routly’s name may be made to the Montgomery County Humane Society, 14645 Rothgeb Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.