Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Rachel Y. Beard

Dr. Beard (IL '05), 31, Lancaster, Texas, died Aug. 24, 2011. She practiced small animal medicine at VCA Metroplex Animal Hospital in Dallas. Earlier in her career, Dr. Beard worked for Maryland Veterinary Group Equine Practice in Laurel, Md., serving at the Bowie, Laurel, and Pimlico racetracks; practiced emergency medicine at Falls Road Animal Hospital in Baltimore; and worked as an emergency clinician at Veterinary Specialists of the Valley in Woodland Hills, Calif. She moved to Texas in 2009.

Passionate about horses and horse racing, Dr. Beard was active with Veterinarians for Equine Welfare, a group committed to the humane treatment of horses and opposed to horse slaughter. She was also involved with the Never-E-Nuff Acres Horse Rescue and Sanctuary in Waxahachie, Texas. Memorials may be made to the sanctuary at P.O. Box 94, Waxahachie, TX 75168.

Phil A. Blair

Dr. Blair (COL '59), 77, Phoenix, died Aug. 4, 2011. He was an assistant state veterinarian with the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Animal Services Division since 1997. Earlier in his career, Dr. Blair practiced in Broken Bow, Neb.; served as a partner at the Casa Grande Animal Hospital in Casa Grande, Ariz.; farmed in southern Colorado's San Luis Valley; and managed the Arnold Pickle and Olive Company in Phoenix.

He was a past president of the Arizona VMA and a past member of the board of directors of the Western Veterinary Conference. Active in civic life, Dr. Blair was a past president of the Van Buren Civic Association; served on the advisory committee for Gateway Community College; and was a member of the Phoenix Planning and Zoning Committee. His wife, Judy; three daughters; and a stepson survive him. Memorials may be made to The Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation Inc., 4573 S. Broad St., Suite 150, Yardville, NJ 08620; or Western Veterinary Conference Student Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 50755, Henderson, NV 89016.

Kenneth S. Gingrich Sr.

Dr. Gingrich (MSU '44), 88, St. Charles, Mich., died March 16, 2011. A mixed animal veterinarian, he practiced in Richmond, Mich., for more than 40 years prior to retirement in 1987. During that time, Dr. Gingrich established the Richmond Veterinary Clinic. Early in his career, he worked as a poultry inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Michigan. Dr. Gingrich was a life member of the Michigan VMA. Active in civic life, he was a past president of the Richmond Community Schools Board of Education and was a member of the Richmond Rotary Club. Dr. Gingrich served as a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps. He is survived by four sons and two daughters. Memorials may be made to the First Free Methodist Church, 2625 N. Center Road, Saginaw, MI 48603.

William L. Hay

Dr. Hay (OSU '50), 91, Piper City, Ill., died March 25, 2011. During his career, he practiced in Piper City. Dr. Hay was a past president of the Central Illinois VMA. Active in civic life, he was also a past president of the Piper City School Board and was a member of the Lions Club. An Army veteran of World War II, Dr. Hay was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. His five sons survive him. Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church, 224 S. Margaret St., Piper City, IL 60959.

Jerome B. Higgins

Dr. Higgins (COR '65), 69, Setauket, N.Y., died Aug. 14, 2011. He practiced small animal medicine at Miller Place Animal Hospital in Miller Place, N.Y. Dr. Higgins was a member of the Long Island VMA and served on the board of directors of Animal Emergency Service in Selden, N.Y. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of captain. Dr. Higgins is survived by his wife, Donna, and two sons. Memorials may be made to the Long Island Coalition for Life, P.O. Box 223, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.

Kenneth E. Keppy

Dr. Keppy (ISU '72), 64, Bettendorf, Iowa, died Aug. 17, 2011. In 1974, he became a partner at Abel-Keppy Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Bettendorf. Dr. Keppy was named president of the hospital in 1989. At the time of his death, he was managing veterinarian of all three of the hospital's clinics, including facilities in Davenport, Iowa, and Milan, Ill. A past director of the Scott County Humane Society, Dr. Keppy helped organize a spay-neuter program with its auxiliary in 1977.

He was a member of the American Animal Hospital Association, Iowa and Quad City VMAs, and Veterinary Dental Society. Active in civic life, Dr. Keppy was also a member and a past chair of the Scott County Board of Health and a member and a past chair of the board of directors of the Center for Active Seniors Inc. He is survived by his wife, Lois; three sons; and a daughter. Memorials in his name may be made to CASI, 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806; St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady St., Davenport, IA 52803; or the National T.T.T. Society (providing educational camping experiences for girls), 811 E. Washington St., Mount Pleasant, IA 52641.

Elmer H. Lerner

Dr. Lerner (UP '55), 93, Sarasota, Fla., died June 27, 2011. He practiced in Palmyra, Pa., for 13 years, and in 1970, after receiving a master's in laboratory animal medicine from Pennsylvania State University, he joined the university's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center as an associate professor of comparative animal medicine. Dr. Lerner's wife, Matilda, and two sons survive him. Memorials may be made to the Chisuk Building Fund, P.O. Box 5507, Harrisburg, PA 17110; Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110; or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

Grace Loomis

Dr. Loomis (COR '42), 92, Warsaw, N.Y., died May 22, 2011. A small animal practitioner, she served as a relief veterinarian from 1970-2001. Earlier in her career, Dr. Loomis co-owned Warsaw Veterinary Hospital with her husband, Dr. Ralph E. Loomis (now deceased). Her three sons and a daughter survive her. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340; or Warsaw Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 22, Warsaw, NY 14569.

Charles R. McCune

Dr. McCune (PUR '64), 73, Indianapolis, died Aug. 30, 2011. A small animal veterinarian, he practiced in Indianapolis for 43 years. Dr. McCune also bred Akitas and Border Terriers. Early in his career, he practiced in the Quad Cities. Dr. McCune was a member of the Indiana VMA and CIVMA. His wife, Priscilla; two daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to the Lawrence Exchange Club (for the prevention of child abuse), P.O. Box 26851, Lawrence, IN 46226; or Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic, 1721A Pleasant St., Noblesville, IN 46060.

Joseph J. Merenda

Dr. Merenda (COR '34), 98, Brooklyn, N.Y., died July 13, 2011. Prior to retirement in the mid-1970s, he practiced small animal medicine at the Zepp Clinic in Manhattan, N.Y. Dr. Merenda was part of a People-to-People veterinary delegation to Eastern Europe in 1964. An Army veteran of World War II, he was active with the Army War Dogs program and retired in 1972 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Dr. Merenda is survived by a son and a daughter. Memorials may be made to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 223623, Pittsburgh, PA 15251.

Edwin H. Page

Dr. Page (OSU '53), 91, West Lafayette, Ind., died May 21, 2011. From 1975 until retirement in 1985, he was head of large animal clinics at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, Dr. Page practiced mixed animal medicine in Kentucky at Greensburg and Glasgow. In 1964, he joined the Department of Large Animal Clinics at Purdue University. Dr. Page was promoted to full professor in 1967, teaching equine medicine with a focus on lameness diagnosis and therapy.

He was a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and a member of the Indiana and West Central Indiana VMAs. Dr. Page was also a past chair of the IVMA Large Animal Program Committee. In 1985, he received the IVMA President's Award. Dr. Page was a Navy veteran of World War II, receiving a Purple Heart for his combat service. He is survived by a son and a daughter. Memorials toward the Edwin and Margaret Page Student Scholarship may be made to Purdue Foundation, Lynn Hall Room 1177A, 625 Harrison St., West Lafayette, IN 47907.

Jack O. Parker

Dr. Parker (MO '54), 82, Ravenwood, Mo., died Aug. 18, 2011. Prior to retirement in 1989, he was a meat inspector with the United States Department of Agriculture in Arkansas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, Dr. Parker practiced in Grant City, Mo., for 28 years. He served as a 1st lieutenant in the Army during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion. Active in civic life, Dr. Parker was a past mayor of Grant City. He was also a member of the Worth County Sheriff's Posse and was active with the 4-H Club. In 2001, Dr. Parker wrote and published his autobiography "Life of a Country Veterinarian." His wife, Lucille, and two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to the Christian Church of Ravenwood, 207 E. Elm St., Ravenwood, MO 64479.

Karl A. Schmidt Jr.

Dr. Schmidt (MSU '97), 41, Plantation, Fla., died Aug. 11, 2011. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, he was in the midst of a career move to the Chicagoland area at the time of his death. Following graduation, Dr. Schmidt practiced in Rockford, Ill., for a year. After completing his residency in veterinary ophthalmology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign from 1998-2000, he joined Animal Eye Consultants in Illinois, practicing in Crestwood, Elgin, and Rockford. In 2003, Dr. Schmidt moved to Florida, where he practiced at the Animal Eye Specialty Clinic's locations in Deerfield Beach and Miami. He was a member of the Florida, South Florida, and Broward County VMAs. Memorials may be made to the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Stanley C. Skadron

Dr. Skadron (MIN '57), 81, Mendota Heights, Minn., died July 13, 2011. He practiced small animal medicine at Skadron Animal Hospital in West St. Paul, Minn., for 40 years. Dr. Skadron is survived by his wife, Nancy, and four children. Memorials may be made to Temple of Aaron Synagogue, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55116; or the Stanley C. Skadron Scholarship Fund, c/o University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1365 Gortner Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108.

Heinz J. Tolksdorf

Dr. Tolksdorf (BER '42), 92, Washington, Mo., died Aug. 24, 2011. After graduating from Free University in Berlin, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Germany. In 1952, Dr. Tolksdorf immigrated to the United States and worked in Washington for nearly 50 years prior to retirement in 2002. He was a lifetime member of the Missouri VMA. Dr. Tolksdorf is survived by two sons and three daughters. One daughter, Dr. Christa Tolksdorf (MO '82), practices small animal medicine in South Pasadena, Fla.

Rufus F. Weidner

Dr. Weidner (MIN '53), 88, Queensbury, N.Y., died May 24, 2011. During his career, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Reedsville, Wis; served as a veterinary meat inspector near Milwaukee; worked for the Department of Agriculture as an assistant station veterinarian at Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Md.; and was a veterinary medical officer for the Food and Drug Administration in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Dr. Weidner retired in 1986. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; two daughters; and a son.

Gregg H. Wilson

Dr. Wilson (WSU '50), 86, San Diego, died May 30, 2011. A small animal practitioner, he owned Bay Park Pet Clinic in San Diego from 1951-1993. Dr. Wilson served on the board of directors of the Emergency Animal Clinic of San Diego in the 1980s. Active in civic life, he was a member of San Diego Rotary Club 33 for more than 40 years. Dr. Wilson served in the Army during World War II. His wife, Ellen; two sons; and two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to the San Diego Humane Society, 5500 Gaines St., San Diego, CA 92110.

Obituary notifications

For an obituary to be published, JAVMA must be notified within six months of the veterinarian's date of death via a toll-free phone call at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6754; newsavma [dot] org (email); or fax at (847) 925-9329.