Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Erik J. Aanestad

Dr. Aanestad (Iowa State ’89), 52, Pomeroy, Ohio, died June 18, 2015. A small animal veterinarian, he owned Athens Veterinary Clinic in Athens, Ohio, for 22 years. Earlier in his career, Dr. Aanestad worked at Meigs Veterinary Clinic in Pomeroy. He was active with the Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Aanestad’s wife, Jane Ann, and a daughter and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to Boy Scouts of America, Troop 235, c/o Mike Harbour, Scoutmaster, 34240 Crew Road, Pomeroy, OH 45769.

Michael H. Covitt

Dr. Covitt (Ohio State ’70), 72, Ballardsville, Kentucky, died May 19, 2015. He began his career at St. Matthews Animal Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Covitt went on to establish what was known as Worthington Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Louisville, later focusing on equine medicine. He was a past president of the Kentucky VMA and a co-founder of the Kidney Foundation of Kentucky. Dr. Covitt is survived by his wife, Robin. Memorials may be made to Hosparus (providing hospice care), 3532 Ephraim McDowell Drive, Louisville, KY 40205.

David F. Erwin Jr.

Dr. Erwin (Kansas State ’59), 84, Russell, Kansas, died May 18, 2015. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Russell for 46 years prior to retirement in 2005. Dr. Erwin served as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army during the Korean War. His wife, Elizabeth, and two sons survive him. Dr. Erwin’s nephew and great-nephew, Drs. Phillip V. Erwin (Kansas State ’72) and Rance Erwin (Kansas State ’02), are veterinarians in Kansas. Memorials may be made to First Congregational Church, P.O. Box 859, 205 E. Wisconsin, Russell, KS 67665.

Monica C. Garcia-Fernandez

Dr. Garcia-Fernandez (Florida ’00), 40, Pompano Beach, Florida, died March 31, 2015. A small animal veterinarian, she owned Lakeside Animal Hospital in Plantation, Florida. Earlier in her career, Dr. Garcia-Fernandez practiced at Knowles Animal Clinic in Miami. She is survived by her husband, Robert, and two children. Memorials toward the St. Gregory The Great Endowed Scholarship Fund may be sent to St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church, 200 N. University Drive, Plantation, FL 33324.

Paul M. Newberne

Dr. Newberne (Auburn ’50), 94, Bedford, Massachusetts, died March 22, 2015. He served 10 years as a professor of pathology at the Boston University School of Medicine’s Mallory Institute of Pathology prior to retirement. Following graduation and after earning a master’s in veterinary pathology from Auburn University in 1951 and a doctorate in nutritional biochemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1958, Dr. Newberne joined the Auburn faculty, where he served as a professor and directed the laboratory of experimental pathology. In 1962, he began a 24-year career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During that time, Dr. Newberne served as a professor of nutritional pathology in what was known as the Department of Nutrition and Food Science. His research focused on the pathology and biochemistry of diseases of nutritional origin.

Dr. Newberne was a diplomate and a distinguished member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. He served as a consultant to several entities, including the Food and Drug Administration, National Academy of Sciences, and World Health Organization. Dr. Newberne also served as a science adviser to the royal family of Thailand. In 1975, he received the American Feed Manufacturers Association Award, recognizing his research contributions to nutrition.

Dr. Newberne was a Navy veteran of World War II. He is survived by his wife, Lillian, and a daughter. Dr. Newberne’s brother, Dr. James W. Newberne (Auburn ’50), is a retired veterinarian in Cincinnati.

George D. O’Neill

Dr. O’Neill (Kansas State ’67), 76, Winthrop, Minnesota, died Jan. 19, 2015. In 1975, he established a practice in Winthrop, where he focused on dairy herd health. Prior to that, Dr. O’Neill worked in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. He was a member of the Minnesota VMA. Active in civic life, Dr. O’Neill served on the Winthrop School and Health boards and was a member of the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps. Dr. O’Neill is survived by his wife, Kathleen; two daughters and two sons; and seven grandchildren.

Stanley K. Robinson

Dr. Robinson (North Carolina State ’91), 51, Newton, North Carolina, died Feb. 20, 2015. He owned Robinson Veterinary Clinic, a small animal practice in Newton. Dr. Robinson is survived by his wife, Sarah, and two sons. His father, Dr. Alfred Robinson (Oklahoma State ’58), is a retired veterinarian in Newton. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 222 S. Church St., Suite 303, Charlotte, NC 28204.

Richard M. Sambol

Dr. Sambol (Kansas State ’55), 84, Omaha, Nebraska, died July 19, 2015. Following graduation, he served two years as a 1st lieutenant in the Army Veterinary Corps. Dr. Sambol then worked two years in Indianapolis before co-establishing Benson Animal Clinic in Omaha, where he practiced small animal medicine for almost 40 years prior to retirement. He later served as veterinary consultant for the Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha. Dr. Sambol is survived by his wife, Dolores; three sons and two daughters; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to St. Elizabeth Ann Catholic Church, 114th and Fort St., Omaha, NE 68164; or Josie Harper Residence Hospice House, 7415 Cedar St., Omaha, NE 68124

Max L. Swartz

Dr. Swartz (Kansas State ’53), 85, Sulphur, Oklahoma, died March 14, 2015. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Sulphur and the surrounding area for 50 years.

Dr. Swartz was a member of the Oklahoma VMA and a veteran of the Air Force. His wife, Kathleen; three sons and two daughters; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren survive him.

Obituary notifications

Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to the JAVMA News staff via a toll-free phone call to 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email to newsavma [dot] org (news[at]avma[dot]org); or fax to 847-925-9329.

For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the date of death.