Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

James T. Anderson

Dr. Anderson (GA ’64), 74, Chester, S.C., died Nov. 28, 2007. He owned Chester Veterinary Clinic for more than 40 years. A past president of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, Dr. Anderson was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1992. He served as a fighter pilot with the Marine Corps during the Korean War, attaining the rank of major. Dr. Anderson was a member of the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission and the Chester Lions Club. His wife, Betty; a son; and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 518, Chester, SC 29706.

Milford E. Becker

Dr. Becker (COR ’43), 91, Altamont, N.Y., died Aug. 4, 2007. Prior to retirement in 1977, he owned a small animal practice in Altamont for more than 30 years. Dr. Becker was an Army veteran of World War II, attaining the rank of captain. His wife, Mary; three daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to Community Caregivers, Box 523, Altamont, NY 12009; Altamont Reformed Church, 129 Lincoln Ave., Altamont, NY 12009; or Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133.

Clare L. Bromley

Dr. Bromley (GA ’51), 82, Steinhatchee, Fla., died Jan. 11, 2008. He owned Bromley’s Animal Hospital in Atlanta, prior to retirement. Dr. Bromley was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II, earning the Victory, Good Conduct, and American Service medals. His three sons and two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, 350 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130.

Richard A. Crawford

Dr. Crawford (COL ’58), 78, Medford, Ore., died Dec. 26, 2007. He owned a practice in West Allis, Wis., from 1963 until retirement in 1997. Earlier in his career, Dr. Crawford worked as a federal meat inspector. His wife, Janet; three daughters; and two sons survive him. Dr. Crawford’s daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Sara A. Crawford (WIS ’88) and Thomas S. McKenna (CAL ’89), are veterinarians in Madison, Wis.

Thomas D. Freeman

Dr. Freeman (OSU ’49), 82, Quincy, Fla., died Dec. 11, 2007. He was a partner at Mayfield Veterinary Clinic in Mayfield, Ky., for 36 years prior to retirement. Dr. Freeman was a past president of the Kentucky VMA and a veteran of the Army. His son and two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 105 N. Jackson St., Quincy, FL 32351; or Alzheimer’s Association, 988 Woodcock, Suite 200, Orlando, FL 32803.

Karl Knoche

Dr. Knoche (KSU ’40), 90, Sun City, Ariz., died July 27, 2007.

Robert F. Langham

Dr. Langham (MSU ’42), 95, Holt, Mich., died Dec. 22, 2007. He was professor emeritus of pathology at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine since 1987. Dr. Langham began his more than 50-year service at MSU in 1936 and was appointed to a full professorship in 1951. A charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, he was known for his expertise in histopathology and oncology.

Dr. Langham was a life member of the Michigan VMA. He received several honors, including the MSU CVM’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 1961 and Alumni Award in 1972, the MSU Distinguished Faculty Award in 1979, and the MSU Distinguished Postdoctoral Veterinary Alumnus Award in 1989. Dr. Langham was also named Distinguished Member of the ACVP in 1989 and received the Charles L. Davis Foundation’s Harold W. Casey Award for Sustained Excellence in the Teaching of Veterinary Pathology in 1996.

His wife, Janean; four daughters; and a son survive him. Dr. Langham’s son-in-law, Dr. Thomas J. Baes (MSU ’78), is a veterinarian in Flint, Mich. Memorials may be made to the Robert F. Langham Endowment Fund, College of Veterinary Medicine, F130 Veterinary Medicine Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

George B. Maichel

Dr. Maichel (KSU ’38), 91, Overbrook, Kan., died Jan. 4, 2008. During his career, he practiced food animal medicine in Overbrook and the surrounding area, and served as a state sale inspector for the Overbrook Sale Barn. Dr. Maichel was a past president of the Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners and a life member of the Kansas VMA.

He served as a major in the Army during World War II and received a Battle Star. Dr. Maichel was a member and past post commander of the American Legion in Overbrook. Active in civic life, he served 50 years on the Kansas State Bank of Overbrook board of directors. Dr. Maichel also served on the Overbrook City Council. His two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Fund, c/o Kansas State Bank, Overbrook, KS 66524.

Dennis T. Nelson

Dr. Nelson (KSU ’67), 65, Mattawan, Mich., died Jan. 15, 2008. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, he worked in toxicologic pathology for MPI Research in Mattawan. Following graduation, Dr. Nelson joined the Air Force Veterinary Corps. He was stationed in Wyoming and Panama and attained the rank of captain. From 1976-1982, Dr. Nelson served as an assistant professor in diagnostic and research pathology at South Dakota State University.

In 1986, he served as supervisory veterinary medical officer and head of the scientific services section at the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on Plum Island, N.Y. From 1987-1990, Dr. Nelson directed the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at SDSU. In 2001, he served as a veterinarian volunteer in England during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Dr. Nelson retired from SDSU in 2002. He was a member of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and the South Dakota VMA.

Dr. Nelson’s wife, Candace; a son; and a daughter survive him. Memorials notated to the Dennis T. Nelson Scholarship for the Outstanding Veterinary Pathology Student at Kansas State University may be made to the Kansas State University Foundation, Attn: Marty Kramer, Suite 500, 2323 Anderson Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502.

Jack J. Opsahl

Dr. Opsahl (PUR ’82), 53, Mishawaka, Ind., died July 19, 2007.

Murray A. Pollack

Dr. Pollack (KSU ’49), 88, Pacific Palisades, Calif., died Dec. 13, 2007. He practiced in Pacific Palisades for 44 years, founding the city’s Blue Cross Pet Hospital in 1962. Dr. Pollack was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as a medic under General George Patton in North Africa and Europe. He received several honors, including the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Belgian Fourragère badge. Dr. Pollack was a past president of American Veterinarians for Israel. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; a son; and a daughter. Memorials toward stem cell research may be made to the Israel Cancer Research Fund, 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 648, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Benjamin Sann

Dr. Sann (COR ’42), 91, New York, died Jan. 19, 2008. From 1979 until retirement in 1986, he practiced in Chatham, N.Y. Following graduation and until 1946, Dr. Sann worked in upstate New York. He then established a practice in Somers, N.Y. From 1972-1973, Dr. Sann volunteered with the Peace Corps in Malaysia and in 1974 with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Tanzania. Between 1973 and 1974, he worked for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Commerce. From 1975-1978, Dr. Sann owned a practice in Manhattan, N.Y. During his retirement years in Arizona, he taught Shakespeare at the senior citizens’ SAGE program at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Dr. Sann’s son and daughter survive him.

R. Frank Vigue

Dr. Vigue (MSU ’43), 88, Kennebunkport, Maine, died July 19, 2007. He owned a practice in Springvale, Maine, for 25 years, before retiring to Kennebunkport in 1971. Dr. Vigue later went back into practice for 14 years, establishing the Virginia B. Mann Memorial Clinic in Arundel, Maine. During his career, he also served as a visiting professor at Nasson College in Springvale.

Dr. Vigue was a veteran of the Army, attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant. He was active in the Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club. Dr. Vigue is survived by his wife, Barbara; a daughter; and a son. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368.

Roger L. Wonderlich

Dr. Wonderlich (ISU ’76), 56, Shelbyville, Ky., died Oct. 15, 2007. A mixed animal practitioner, he was a partner at the Shelbyville Veterinary Clinic for 30 years. Dr. Wonderlich was a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Kentucky VMA, and Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association. He was also active with the Christian Veterinary Mission and Habitat for Humanity. Dr. Wonderlich’s wife, Jan; two sons; and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to the Roger Wonderlich Foundation for Missions and Outreach, Fifth Third Bank, 300 Taylorsville Road, Shelbyville, KY 40065.