Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Ara A. Ayanian

Dr. Ayanian (Cornell ’59), 80, Hilton Head, South Carolina, died Jan. 1, 2015. He owned Linthicum Animal Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Linthicum, Maryland, prior to retirement in 2001. His wife, Mary Lou; two daughters and a son; and nine grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Teaching Dairy Program, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Box 39, Ithaca, NY 14853; or LowCountry Food Bank, Senior Grocery Program, 1 Guess Road, Yemassee, SC 29945.

Lauren E. Baldwin

Dr. Baldwin (Georgia ’10), 30, Rhinebeck, New York, died Jan. 31, 2015. An equine veterinarian, she practiced at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Saratoga, New York. Earlier, Dr. Baldwin served three years in the Army Veterinary Corps in Arizona. During her career, she also worked with horses at the Kentucky Derby and Canadian Olympics.

Memorials may be made to the University of Georgia Large Animal Hospital Client Support Fund, c/o Kathy Bangle, Director of Veterinary External Affairs, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602; or The Cottingham House, Oconee Hospice of the Foothills, 390 Keowee School Road, Seneca, SC 29672.

Michael A. Ball

Dr. Ball (Cornell ’92), 53, Fabius, New York, died Dec. 20, 2014. He practiced equine medicine at Dark Horse Veterinary Services in Fabius. Earlier in his career, Dr. Ball was a partner at Early Winter Equine in Lansing, New York, for 20 years. He served six years as a team veterinarian for the United States Equestrian Team and worked with the Chinese Equestrian Association, helping to train their veterinarians. Memorials may be made to the Michael A. Ball DVM Scholarship Fund, College of Veterinary Medicine, Box 39, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.

David L. Bourassa

Dr. Bourassa (Illinois ’81), 67, Topsham, Maine, died Jan. 27, 2015. A small animal veterinarian, he began his career at Westbrook Animal Hospital in Westbrook, Maine. In 1983, Dr. Bourassa established Freeport Veterinary Hospital in Freeport, Maine, where he practiced for 25 years prior to retirement. He also served as shelter veterinarian at Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, Maine. Dr. Bourassa was a veteran of the Air Force. He is survived by his wife, Dale; four daughters; and a grandchild. Memorials may be made to Coastal Humane Society, 30 Range Road, Brunswick, ME 04011.

Raymond A. Buelow

Dr. Buelow (Iowa State ’64), 81, Santa Barbara, California, died April 19, 2015. He owned a small animal practice in Santa Barbara prior to retirement. A past president of the Santa Barbara-Ventura VMA, Dr. Buelow served 25 years as a director of the Marguerite Doe Foundation, which awards grants to organizations devoted to the humane treatment of animals. He was a veteran of the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain. Dr. Buelow is survived by his wife, Margret, and a son and a daughter.

John W. Cougill

Dr. Cougill (Ohio State ’74), 66, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, died Feb. 26, 2015. He recently retired as a disease vector risk analyst with the Department of Agriculture. Earlier in his career, Dr. Cougill owned a small animal practice in Westlake, Ohio. His wife, Nancy; a son, a daughter, two stepdaughters, and a stepson; and nine grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Cambodian Village Scholars Fund, 71421 Halgar Road, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.

Joseph L. Dorner

Dr. Dorner (Illinois ’64), 78, Urbana, Illinois, died Dec. 19, 2014. He was professor emeritus of clinical pathology at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine since 1994. During his tenure, Dr. Dorner also served as associate dean for student and academic affairs. He received what is now known as the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award in 1972 and the veterinary college’s Alumni Award of Merit in 1973. Dr. Dorner was also the recipient of the 1992 Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching. His wife, Mary Ellen; two sons; and three grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the Joseph L. Dorner Award for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, University of Illinois Foundation, Harker Hall, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801.

Ronald J. Faoro

Dr. Faoro (Washington State ’81), 60, Santa Barbara, California, died March 1, 2015. A small animal practitioner, he owned St. Francis Pet Clinic in Santa Barbara. Early in his career, Dr. Faoro practiced at Adobe Pet Hospital in Santa Barbara. He was a past president of the California VMA and California Veterinary Medical Foundation and a member of the Santa Barbara-Ventura VMA. Dr. Faoro also served on several CVMA committees. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and a daughter.

Memorials toward the Ron Faoro DVM Student Scholarship Fund may be made to CVMF, 1400 River Park Drive, Suite 101, Sacramento, CA 95815, or toward an all-terrain track chair for a wounded veteran.

Roger G. Feldman

Dr. Feldman (Iowa State ’50), 89, College Station, Texas, died Feb. 25, 2015. He retired from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences as associate professor emeritus in 1990.

He served in the Army during World War II. Following graduation, Dr. Feldman practiced large animal medicine in Iowa until 1957. He then worked for the Department of Agriculture as a meat and poultry inspector. In 1965, a year after earning a master’s in veterinary pathology from Auburn University, Dr. Feldman joined the veterinary faculty at TAMU. During his tenure, he taught veterinary pathology, served on the advisory committee for the biomedical science program, and was a founding member of TAMU’s mentorship program. Dr. Feldman was also known as the voice of Aggieland, serving as the public address announcer for football, basketball, and baseball, and worked as a track and field official. In 1988, he received the Association of Former Students Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award for Student Relations, and, in 1998, the Texas A&M Lettermen’s Association honored him as a Hall of Honor member for his dedication to Aggie athletics.

Dr. Feldman was a member of the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Active in civic life, he was a past president of the College Station chapter of the Kiwanis Club and served on the A&M Consolidated Independent School Board. Dr. Feldman established the Roger and Marie Feldman Endowed Scholarship benefiting an Iowa public school student at his alma mater, Iowa State University, and was governor emeritus of the Iowa State Foundation.

Dr. Feldman’s wife, Kathryn; three daughters, a son, and a stepson; and nine grandchildren survive him. His stepdaughter-in-law, Dr. Julie S. Haight (Texas A&M ’93), is a small animal veterinarian in Austin, Texas. Memorials may be made to the A&M United Methodist Church Music Ministry, 417 University Drive, College Station, TX 77840; or Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX 77843.

Lawrence E. Forthofer

Dr. Forthofer (Ohio State ’73), 66, Wellington, Ohio, died April 23, 2015. In 1976, he established what is now known as Forever Friends Pet Care Center and Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Grafton. Earlier, Dr. Forthofer practiced equine and small animal medicine in North Ridgeville, Ohio. He was a member of the Ohio VMA. Dr. Forthofer is survived by his wife, Dr. Marsha L. Heinke (Ohio State ’79), who owns an accounting, practice appraisal, and consulting firm for veterinary professionals in Grafton.

Memorials may be made to Forever Friends Good Samaritan Fund, 36469 State Route 303, Grafton, OH 44044; The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or Western Reserve Land Conservancy, 3850 Chagrin River Road, Moreland Hills, OH 44022.

Francis H. Fox

Dr. Fox (Cornell ’45), 92, Ithaca, New York, died March 13, 2015. A charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, he was professor emeritus of large animal medicine at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine since 1992. Dr. Fox began his career as an instructor in large animal surgery at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1947, he joined Cornell as an assistant professor of medicine and obstetrics. Dr. Fox went on to serve as chief of medicine, director of the ambulatory clinic, and chair of what was then the Department of Large Animal Medicine, Obstetrics, and Surgery.

Active in organized veterinary medicine, he represented District I on the AVMA Board of Directors from 1966-1980, chairing the Board from 1973-1974 and 1977-1978. Dr. Fox served on the AVMA Judicial Council from 1986-1991, was a past president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and was a member of the New York State VMS. He also served nearly two decades on the Tompkins County Board of Health, chairing it for 13 years.

In 1994, he was the recipient of the AVMA Award for distinguished contributions to the advancement of veterinary medical organizations.Dr. Fox received the NYSVMS Award of Merit in 1977, Special Award in 1980, and Distinguished Life Service Award in 1993.

Dr. Fox is survived by his wife, Mildred; three daughters and a son; and seven grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Catherine of Siena Church, 302 St. Catherine’s Circle, Ithaca, NY 14850; or to the Dr. Francis H. Fox Scholarship Fund, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Box 39, Ithaca, NY 14853.

Jan O. Gars

Dr. Gars (Auburn ’76), 63, Citra, Florida, died Feb. 13, 2015. He owned Oak Ridge Animal Hospital in Ocala, Florida, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 35 years. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Dr. Gars authored “The Enchanted Rocking Horse: A Collection of Childhood Dreams.”

He is survived by his partner, Athena; a daughter, two sons, and three stepdaughters; and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Ocala Humane Society, 701 Northwest 14th Road, Ocala, FL 34475.

Harry V. Hagstad

Dr. Hagstad (Cornell ’52), 90, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, died April 9, 2015. He retired in 1989 as professor emeritus and head of the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Hagstad later taught at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, West Indies, until final retirement in 1991.

Early in his career, he owned a practice in Haverstraw, New York; earned a master’s in public health from Tulane University; and worked five years in a leprosy control program in India. Dr. Hagstad was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, a fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, and a past president of the Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine.

An Army veteran of World War II, he participated in the Battle of the Bulge and was a prisoner of war until liberation in 1945. Dr. Hagstad received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, Belgian Fourragere Unit of Citation, and French Legion of Honor. He is survived by three sons and two daughters, 12 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

John L. Harper

Dr. Harper (Texas A&M ’52), 91, Corsicana, Texas, died Dec. 10, 2014. He co-owned Carroll and Harper Animal Hospital in Corsicana, where he practiced primarily small animal medicine until retirement in 1999. Dr. Harper also farmed and ranched. In retirement, he volunteered at the Corsicana Animal Shelter. Active in civic life, Dr. Harper served on the Corsicana Independent School District Board for nine years and was active with the Navarro County Youth Expo.

He is survived by a daughter and a son, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Child & Family, 312 N. 13th St., Corsicana, TX 75110; or Navarro County Youth Expo, 4021 W. Highway 22, Corsicana, TX 75110.

Douglas E. Jensen

Dr. Jensen (Minnesota ’65), 73, Lakeville, Minnesota, died Jan. 22, 2015. He had retired as area epidemiologist for the Department of Agriculture in Frankfort, Kentucky, shortly prior to his death. Following graduation, Dr. Jensen served as a captain in the Army. He then worked as a small animal veterinarian in southern Minneapolis for 20 years. Dr. Jensen subsequently joined the USDA, stationed in New Mexico, Arizona, and Minnesota. During that time, he also earned a master’s in public health from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Jensen is survived by his wife, Diane; three daughters and a son; and eight grandchildren.

William H. Keaton

Dr. Keaton (Cornell ’49), 90, Bow, New Hampshire, died Jan. 15, 2015. He practiced mixed animal medicine in the Barre-Montpelier area of Vermont for 50 years prior to retirement. Dr. Keaton served in the Army during World War II and earned a Purple Heart. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Elks Club of Barre. Dr. Keaton is survived by his wife, Marie; four children; and seven grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Central Vermont Humane Society, P.O. Box 687, East Montpelier, VT 05601.

Scott P. Lumpee

Dr. Lumpee (Texas A&M ’84), 55, Crowley, Texas, died Dec. 4, 2014. He owned Burleson Small Animal Hospital in Burleson, Texas, for 20 years. Dr. Lumpee was a past member of the Texas VMA board of directors, also serving for several years on the board of the Burleson Animal Shelter. His wife, Janet, and a daughter and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to Crowley House of Hope, P.O. Box 300, Crowley, TX 76036.

Robert P. Myers

Dr. Myers (Washington State ’67), 76, Bozeman, Montana, died April 9, 2015. Following graduation and a residency in equine surgery, he practiced in Bozeman and Belgrade, Montana. Dr. Myers subsequently earned a master’s in pathology from Colorado State University in 1983 and joined the Montana Department of Livestock, serving as supervisor of microbiology. Beginning in 2000, he worked part time for the department.

During his career, Dr. Myers also consulted for Norden Laboratories. He served on the Montana Board of Veterinary Medicine from 1993-1998 and was a past executive secretary of the Montana VMA. A fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners and a diplomate of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Myers served as Gallatin County coroner for several years. Active with the Rotary Club, he was a Paul Harris Fellow. Dr. Myers is survived by three children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Everett L. Robinson

Dr. Robinson (Iowa State ’52), 94, Lone Jack, Missouri, died Jan. 7, 2015. He owned a mixed animal practice in Lone Jack, focusing on equine medicine, prior to retirement. Dr. Robinson also bred, raised, and showed American Saddlebred horses. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Dr. Robinson is survived by a son and a daughter, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Clyde C. Templeman Jr.

Dr. Templeman (Iowa State ’52), 88, Wichita, Kansas, died April 28, 2015. He began his career in large animal practice in Williams, Iowa. Dr. Templeman subsequently worked 10 years in laboratory animal medicine for several companies in Missouri and Philadelphia. In 1986, he moved to Wichita and joined the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he worked in research until retirement. Dr. Templeman was an Army veteran of World War II. His wife, Pat; two sons, a daughter, and two stepchildren; six grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren survive him.

Memorials may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church, 2525 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226; or Little Early Childhood Center, 1613 N. Platt Ave., Wichita, KS 67214.

Robert W. Thomas

Dr. Thomas (Cornell ’57), 81, Cobleskill, New York, died Dec. 22, 2014. He owned Carmel Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Carmel, New York, prior to retirement in 1989. In retirement, Dr. Thomas ran the Schoharie County Rabies Program, established a 4-H sheep program for area youth, and was active with the Rotary Club. His wife, Wanda; two sons; two grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties 4-H program, 173 S. Grand St., Suite 1, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

Edward A. Usenik

Dr. Usenik (Minnesota ’52), 88, Medford, Oregon, died Feb. 22, 2015. He was a professor of large animal clinical sciences and veterinary surgery at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine for 32 years. During his tenure, Dr. Usenik also served as head of the large animal clinic, was acting head of the former Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, and headed animal resource facilities.

While on sabbatical from the college, he taught at San Marcos University in Lima, Peru, and the University of Nairobi in Kenya. Later in his career, Dr. Usenik directed the food animal medicine program at Louisiana State University for three years and served as a professor at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare for four years. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; two daughters; and four grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Foundation for Fighting Blindness, P.O. Box 17279, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Robin C. Valentine

Dr. Valentine (Pennsylvania ’02), 40, Boca Raton, Florida, died March 21, 2015. She began her career practicing emergency and critical care medicine in Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. Dr. Valentine later moved to South Florida, where she established Valentine Veterinary Medical Services, focusing on house calls and emergency medicine. She also volunteered at animal shelters, rescue organizations, and spay/neuter clinics. Memorials may be made to the Tri-County Animal Rescue, 21287 Boca Rio Road, Boca Raton, FL 33433.

George D. Vineyard

Dr. Vineyard (Cornell ’53), 85, Perry, New York, died April 13, 2015. He worked as a field veterinarian for the Department of Agriculture for 13 years prior to retirement in 1995. Earlier, Dr. Vineyard owned a mixed animal practice in Belmont, New York. He was a veteran of the Army. Dr. Vineyard’s wife, Joanne; two sons; and five grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Perry, 35 Covington St., Perry, NY 14530.

Harry E. Wendler

Dr. Wendler (Ohio State ’55), 84, Villa Park, California, died Feb. 17, 2015. He owned Katella Animal Clinic, a small animal practice in Anaheim, California, for 30 years prior to retirement. Dr. Wendler was a veteran of the Army and attained the rank of 1st lieutenant. His wife, Marjorie; a son; and two grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210.

William Conley Westover

Dr. Westover (Colorado State ’74), 65, Flagstaff, Arizona, died Jan. 18, 2015. He owned Aspen Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Flagstaff, for 40 years. Earlier, Dr. Westover practiced a year in Payson, Arizona. He was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Arizona VMA and an affiliate member of the American Animal Hospital Association. Dr. Westover’s wife, Nancy; two daughters; and three grandchildren survive him. Memorials toward the Conley Westover Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund may be made to Colorado State University Foundation, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Collins, CO 80522.