Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Leonard J. Abell

Dr. Abell (UP '39), 97, Pfafftown, N.C., died Jan. 29, 2011. Prior to retirement in 1979, he practiced primarily large animal medicine for 35 years throughout northeast Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York state. Earlier in his career, Dr. Abell taught at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and served in the Army Veterinary Corps during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion and the World War II Last Man's Club. Dr. Abell's wife, Ruth; a son; and two daughters survive him. Memorials in his name may be made to Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, 4565 Wenlock Lane, Pfafftown, NC 27040; or Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262.

Arthur L. Aronson

Dr. Aronson (MIN '57), 77, Raleigh, N.C., died Sept. 22, 2010. A charter diplomate and past president of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, he was professor and head of the Department of Anatomy, Physiological Sciences, and Radiology at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine prior to retirement in 1998. Earlier in his career, Dr. Aronson was a member of the faculty at Cornell University, where he taught and conducted research. A past president of the American Academy of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics and the North Carolina chapter of the Society of Toxicology, he served on the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents from 1981-1987. Dr. Aronson chaired a National Academy of Sciences committee to produce the handbook "Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals" and was past editor of the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. He received several honors, including the NCSU-CVM Ruth and Ned Huffman Leadership Award in 1989 and the AAVPT Lloyd E. Davis Award for outstanding contributions to veterinary pharmacology in 1994.

Active in civic life, Dr. Aronson was a past president of the Wake County Literary Council. He also served as a tutor and mentor with the Wake County Communities in School and was recognized for his 15 years of service with The Most Valuable CIS Tutor/Mentor Award. Dr. Aronson is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two daughters; and a son.

George E. Boyle

Dr. Boyle (UP '57), 77, Ticonderoga, N.Y., died Dec. 17, 2010. A small animal practitioner, he retired as a partner in 1999 from Ticehurst Animal Hospital in Middletown, N.J. Active in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Boyle was a past president of the New Jersey Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and a past executive secretary of the New Jersey VMA. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; three daughters; and a son. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's School, 64 Amherst Ave., Ticonderoga, NY 12883.

Jack H. Fries

Dr. Fries (MSU '42), 90, Durand, Mich., died Nov. 24, 2010. A mixed animal practitioner with a special interest in Standardbred horses, he owned Fries Veterinary Clinic in Durand prior to retirement in 2001. Early in his career, Dr. Fries practiced in Merrill, Mich. He was a life member of the Michigan VMA and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Dr. Fries' wife, Josephine; a son; and two daughters survive him. His grandson, Dr. W.A. Foster (MSU '94), and granddaughter-in-law, Dr. J.L. Foster (MSU '94), now co-own Fries Veterinary Clinic.

Vernie M. Graves Jr.

Dr. Graves (UP '49), 90, Williamsburg, Va., died Dec. 18, 2010. Retired for the past 20 years, he was the co-founder of Culpeper Animal Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Culpeper, Va. Dr. Graves was a veteran of the Army. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and four daughters.

Thomas J. Gunhouse

Dr. Gunhouse (IL '54), 81, Indianapolis, died Jan. 15, 2011. A mixed animal practitioner, he owned Frankfort Veterinary Clinic in Frankfort, Ill., for 35 years, retiring in 1989. Dr. Gunhouse was a life member of the Illinois State VMA. His wife, Betty; a son; and two daughters survive him. Memorials toward the Endowment Fund may be made to the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, 3505 VMBSB, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802.

James E. Hoban

Dr. Hoban (TEX '50), 86, Corpus Christi, Texas, died Sept. 21, 2010. A small animal practitioner, he established Hoban Veterinary Hospital in Corpus Christi in 1950, retiring after 43 years of practice. Dr. Hoban served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force during World War II. His wife, Dorothy Ellen; three daughters; and a son survive him. Dr. Hoban's grandson, Dr. Garrett Hoban Montgomery (TEX '10), practices mixed animal medicine in Edna, Texas.

Archie L. Kassirer

Dr. Kassirer (ONT '48), 93, Ottawa, Ontario, died Oct. 31, 2010. From 1948 until retirement in the early 1980s, he practiced primarily small animal medicine in Ottawa. In retirement, Dr. Kassirer had a house call practice. Active in civic life, he was a longtime member of the Rotary Club. Dr. Kassirer is survived by two sons and a daughter. Memorials may be made to the Kassirer Fund, Hillel Lodge, 10 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 4G7.

John R. Leahy

Dr. Leahy (COR '47), 94, West Oneonta, N.Y., died Jan. 19, 2011. A mixed animal practitioner, he owned a practice in Oneonta until 1992. Dr. Leahy also raised and raced Standardbred horses. He served multiple terms on the New York State Board of Veterinary Medicine and authored the book "Restraint of Animals." Active in civic life, Dr. Leahy helped establish the West Oneonta Fire Department and served as a fire commissioner for several years. He also served on the Oneonta City Schools Board of Education and was a member of the Otego Rotary Club. Dr. Leahy's three sons and three daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to the Cooperstown Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326; Otego Fire Department, 5 River St., Otego, NY 13825; or West Oneonta Fire District, 2865 County Highway 8, West Oneonta, NY 13861.

John O. Regnier

Dr. Regnier (OKL '72), 66, Balko, Okla., died Oct. 25, 2010. He practiced large animal medicine at Ranch Veterinary Service in Balko since 1982. Earlier in his career, Dr. Regnier worked at La Junta Veterinary Clinic in La Junta, Colo., and practiced at Regnier and Baker Equine Practice in Arkadelphia, Ark. He is survived by his wife, Retha, and three daughters. Memorials may be made to Baptist Medical and Dental Missions International, 11 Plaza Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39402.

Dale H. Tracy

Dr. Tracy (KSU '52), 85, Scottsbluff, Neb., died Jan. 8, 2011. Prior to retirement in 1983, he owned a large animal practice in Ponca, Neb. Earlier in his career, Dr. Tracy practiced in Spring Hill, Kan., and Spalding, Neb. He was a veteran of the Navy. Dr. Tracy is survived by his wife, Doris; two daughters; and a son. His son-in-law, Dr. Owen L. Henderson (MO '81), works for the Veterinary Services program of the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Memorials may be made to Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202; or Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709.