Obituaries

AVMA member

AVMA honor roll member

Nonmember

Martin N. Brillhart

Dr. Brillhart (Texas A&M '72), 70, Slaton, Texas, died June 9, 2018. He practiced large animal medicine at Brillhart Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Slaton, serving the Posey community. Dr. Brillhart is survived by his daughter. Memorials may be made to the Texas Boys Ranch Inc., P.O. Box 5665, Lubbock, TX 79408; Texas Tech University System School of Veterinary Medicine, 1248 Indiana Ave., Lubbock, TX 79415; or Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, 134 Dodge City Trail, Boys Ranch, TX 79010.

Barbara J. Burde

Dr. Burde (Cornell '76), 69, Simi Valley, California, died June 15, 2018. She owned a small animal practice in Thousand Oaks, California, for 12 years prior to retirement. Following graduation, Dr. Burde practiced mixed animal medicine in Binghampton, New York, and subsequently small animal medicine in New Jersey. In 1979, she moved to California, where she joined a small animal practice in Saticoy, working there for several years before establishing her practice in Thousand Oaks. An avid artist, she was a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and Simi Valley Art Association. Dr. Burde served as president of the Thousand Oaks African Violet Society and was active with the African Violet Society of America. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Dr. Burde's husband, David; and three sisters and a brother survive her. Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203, or African Violet Society of America, 2375 North St., Beaumont, TX 77702.

Jeffrey A. Cheney

Dr. Cheney (Iowa State '00), 44, Victor, Iowa, died June 12, 2018. A mixed animal veterinarian, he was a partner at Farm and Family Veterinary Clinic with locations in Iowa at Victor, Brooklyn, and Montezuma. Dr. Cheney was a member of the Hartwick-Ladora-Victor Community School District Board, serving several terms as vice president of the board. His wife, Karla; a daughter and two sons; his parents; and two sisters and two brothers survive him. Memorials to the Jeffrey A. Cheney Memorial Fund may be mailed c/o Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 485, Victor, IA 52347.

James Emmett III

Dr. Emmett (Colorado State '72), 78, Greeley, Colorado, died April 24, 2018. He spent his career at West Ridge Animal Hospital in Greeley, focusing on small animal and avian medicine. Dr. Emmett also worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service, assisting in the care of wildlife. His daughter, son, two stepdaughters, three grandchildren, and a sister and a brother survive him. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Weld County, 1620 42nd St., Evans, CO 80620; Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741; or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 W. 44th St., Suite 609, New York, NY 10036.

Lauren R. Frank

Dr. Frank (California-Davis '09), 41, Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, died June 24, 2018. During her career, she ran the physical rehabilitation and acupuncture program at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital; initiated the rehabilitation and acupuncture center at Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford, Connecticut; and led the Integrative Medicine and Sports Rehabilitation Department at Long Island Veterinary Specialists in Plainview, New York. Dr. Frank also served as an instructor at the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Reddick, Florida, and was an adjunct professor at the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou, China, where she taught acupuncture and rehabilitation. She was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Frank is survived by her fiance, Dr. Patrick Roynard, a 2007 graduate of the National Veterinary School of Alfort in France; her parents; and three siblings. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St. NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037.

Steeve Giguere

Dr. Giguere (Montreal '92), 48, Bogart, Georgia, died May 27, 2018. Following graduation, he completed a two-year residency at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his doctorate in veterinary microbiology and immunology in 1999 from the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College, then joined the veterinary faculty of the University of Florida. In 2009, Dr. Giguere was appointed a professor of large animal medicine and the Marguerite Thomas Hodgson Chair in Equine Studies at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, he was known for his research in equine infectious diseases and comparative immunology, especially the development, treatment, and prevention of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. Dr. Giguere received what is now known as the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award in 2006, the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Applied Equine Research Award in 2009, and the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence in 2017. His wife, Myriam Belanger; two daughters; his mother; and a brother survive him. Memorials, with the memo line of the check notated "In memory of Steeve Giguere," may be made to the UGA Foundation, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, 501 DW Brooks, Athens, GA 30602.

Keith R. Hull

Dr. Hull (Ohio State '60), 83, Fremont, Ohio, died July 12, 2018. Following graduation, he established Westview Animal Hospital in Fremont, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 40 years prior to retirement. Dr. Hull also served as a meat inspector for the state of Ohio for 12 years and had a special interest in Standardbred racehorses, working from the mid-'70s into the '80s at Northfield Park racetrack in Northfield, Ohio. His wife, Lucy; two daughters; a grandchild; and two brothers survive him. Memorials may be made to the Sandusky County Agricultural Society, 712 North St., Suite 101, Fremont, OH 43420, or First Presbyterian Church, 120 S. Park Ave., Fremont, OH 43420.

James M. Larkin

Dr. Larkin (California-Davis '58), 84, Mission Viejo, California, died July 3, 2018. He owned a small animal practice in southern Orange County, California, from 1976 until retirement in 1997. Earlier, Dr. Larkin practiced in California's San Fernando Valley and in El Centro, California. He was a member of the Southern California VMA and active with the animal emergency clinic in South Orange County. Dr. Larkin served in the Army from 1958-60, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. His wife, Doreen; three daughters and a son; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Free the Kids Inc., an organization helping children in Haiti, at 5704 W. Market St., Unit 8947, Greensboro, NC 27419.

Phyllis Hickney Larsen

Dr. Larsen (Kansas State '47), 95, Ithaca, New York, died Aug. 11, 2018. During her career, she researched reproductive diseases in cattle; consulted on nature and the environment in a bilingual program for Mexican children; taught laboratory animal technicians; worked in pathology at the San Diego Zoo; analyzed a population of feral goats and their diseases; and taught English to veterinary students and the public in China, where she also discovered and reported on ear mites in goats. A life member of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, Dr. Larsen co-managed the association's office for several years in the 1990s and was a past chair of its Student Educational Opportunities Committee. In 1996, she received the association's George McConnell Award.

Dr. Larsen was a past president of the American Veterinary Medical History Society and served several years as chair of the History Committee of the former Association of Women Veterinarians. She compiled the AWV's 50th anniversary book, "Our History of Women in Veterinary Medicine: Gumption, Grace, Grit, and Good Humor." In 2002, the AWV honored her with the Judy Spurling Award for her work and dedication to the association. Dr. Larsen is survived by four children and five grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173.

Wilbur A. Leibbrand

Dr. Leibbrand (Minnesota '53), 94, Hastings, Minnesota, died July 24, 2018. During his career, he was in mixed animal practice in Minnesota at Little Falls and Hastings; worked for the Department of Agriculture in Minneapolis and Kearney, Nebraska; and served as a professor at the University of Minnesota in Waseca. Dr. Leibbrand was a veteran of the Army. His wife, Eleanor; three sons and a daughter; eight grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren; and two sisters survive him.

Richard J. Montali

Dr. Montali (Cornell '64), 79, Frederick, Maryland, died May 27, 2018. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and a charter diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, he served as chief veterinary pathologist at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., for 29 years. During his career, Dr. Montali also worked with the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the Armed Forces Institutes of Pathology, providing training for pathology residents; served as pathologist for the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia; and was an adviser to the Australian Registry of Wildlife Diseases and Pathology.

Known for his expertise in modern investigative zoological pathology, his research spanned from mycobacteriosis affecting all vertebrate groups to canine distemper virus and vaccine strategies in carnivores to disease agents affecting individual species or genera such as Callitrichid hepatitis virus and endotheliotropic herpesvirus in elephants. In 1999, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians honored Dr. Montali with the Emil P. Dolensek Award for exceptional contributions to the conservation, care, and understanding of zoo and free-ranging wildlife. Dr. Montali was the recipient of the ACVP Distinguished Member Award in 2010 and the ACZM Murray Fowler Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. His son, daughter, grandchild, and sister survive him.

Frederick W. Oehme

Dr. Oehme (Cornell '58), 84, Manhattan, Kansas, died April 9, 2018. He was professor emeritus of toxicology, pathobiology, medicine, and physiology and former director of comparative toxicology laboratories at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Following graduation, Dr. Oehme was in private practice in Oakland, Maryland, for a year. He then joined the KSU CVM, remaining there until retirement in 2009. During his tenure, Dr. Oehme served as an assistant and associate professor of clinical medicine, established the comparative toxicology laboratories, and was a visiting exchange professor at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, Germany.

A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology and American Board of Toxicology, he was a past president of the Society of Toxicology and American Academy of Clinical Toxicology. Dr. Oehme was a fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and American Academy of Veterinary and Comparative Toxicology. He served as a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Health Organization, and he served on several committees of the National Academy of Sciences.

In 1977, Dr. Oehme received the KSU Phi Zeta annual award for research excellence. In 1978, he was the recipient of the KSU Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award. He received a Samuel F. Scheidy Memorial Award for excellence in veterinary medical research in 1999. In 2000, he was honored with the AACT Career Recognition Award. Dr. Oehme was the recipient of the Society of Toxicology Education Award in 2003 and was honored with the KSU E.R. Frank Award in 2011.

He is survived by his wife, Pam; three daughters, a son, and a stepdaughter; six grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to the Meadowlark Good Samaritan Fund, 2121 Meadowlark Road, Manhattan, KS 66502, or Kansas State University Foundation (Dr. Frederick W. Oehme Toxicology Scholarship), 1800 Kimball Ave. Suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502.

Thomas E. Pyle

Dr. Pyle (California-Davis '71), 71, Susanville, California, died Sept. 2, 2018. From 1974 until retirement in 2013, he owned Lassen Veterinary Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Susanville. Earlier, Dr. Pyle worked at Grass Valley Veterinary Hospital in Grass Valley, California. He volunteered during dog sledding events in Alaska and with the Christian Veterinary Mission. Active in his community, Dr. Pyle was a member of the Lassen County Sheriff's Posse and Lassen County Chamber of Commerce, and he was active with the 4-H Club and National FFA Organization.

He is survived by his wife, Maryann; two daughters; two grandchildren; and three brothers. Memorials may be made to the Lassen County 4-H Program, 707 Nevada St., Susanville, CA 96130, or Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98133, cvmusa.org/support.

Thomas A. Russell

Dr. Russell (Iowa State '62), 86, Glenview, Illinois, died Aug. 22, 2018. He co-owned Riser Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Skokie, Illinois, prior to retirement in 1998. Early in his career, Dr. Russell worked in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, for a year. He was a past president of the Illinois State and Chicago VMAs and a member of the American Animal Hospital Association. In 1995, Dr. Russell received the Service Award from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association. In 1996, he received the AAHA Outstanding Service Award. He was the recipient of the ISVMA Meritorious Service Award in 1998 and the CVMA Lifetime Merit Award in 1999. In 2001, Dr. Russell was a recipient of the Stange Award for Meritorious Service from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He was a veteran of the Army. Dr. Russell is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters and two sons; 15 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and two sisters.

Rodney L. Schoelkopf Sr.

Dr. Schoelkopf (Georgia '65), 86, Fort Wayne, Indiana, died May 12, 2018. Prior to retirement, he worked in the international division of Central Soya, an agribusiness company in Fort Wayne. Dr. Schoelkopf was involved with Central Soya's animal feed products and traveled worldwide for the company from the 1970s-90s. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. Dr. Schoelkopf is survived by his daughter, son, and brother. Memorials may be made to the National Audubon Society, 225 Varick St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014.

Charles J. Sedgwick

Dr. Sedgwick (Washington State '57), 86, Monterey, California, died May 26, 2018. From 1995 until retirement in 2000, he was chief veterinarian at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he had served as charter zoo veterinarian from 1964-68. Following graduation, Dr. Sedgwick was in private practice for several years, including time at Duey's Dog and Cat Hospital in Bellevue, Washington, and Virginia Mason Clinic in Seattle. In 1964, he was named veterinarian at the Los Angeles Zoo, serving in that capacity for four years. In 1969, Dr. Sedgwick became research veterinarian for the Biosatellite II program through the University of California-Los Angeles and NASA, involving monkeys in space. From 1970-76, he served as director of veterinary services at the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Sedgwick subsequently joined the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, where he was campus veterinarian as well as course director and lecturer in zoological and laboratory animal medicine. During that time, he also served as a clinician at the Sacramento Zoo.

From 1983-95, Dr. Sedgwick was an associate professor and course director of comparative medicine and zoological medicine in the Department of Environmental Studies at Tufts University, serving also as the first director of the Tufts Wildlife Center. He then returned to the Los Angeles Zoo, where he remained until retirement. During his time at the Los Angeles and San Diego zoos, Dr. Sedgwick helped design and establish new animal hospitals. In retirement, he focused on writing algorithms to fine-tune allometric scaling for use in calculating drug dosages for various species.

Dr. Sedgwick was a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. In 1991, the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded AAZV lifetime membership in 2003. In 2010, he received the Excellence in Teaching and Research Award from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Sedgwick is survived by three sons, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Thomas V. Sollas Jr.

Dr. Sollas (Pennsylvania '56), 89, Point Pleasant, New Jersey, died Aug. 20, 2018. He was the founder of Sea Girt Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Sea Girt, New Jersey, where he practiced until retirement in 1988. Dr. Sollas was also the founder of Purr and Pooch Boarding Kennels in New Jersey's Wall Township and Shrewsbury Borough, and he was a co-founder and a past president of what is now known as the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick, New Jersey. In addition to his veterinary career, he was a land developer, with several commercial and residential projects to his credit over 45 years.

Dr. Sollas was a past president of the Metropolitan New Jersey VMA and a member of the New Jersey VMA. In 2006, he was a recipient of the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Alumni Award of Merit. He served in the Marine Corps following World War II and during the Korean War. Dr. Sollas' son, daughter, 10 grandchildren, and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1233 York Ave., New York, NY 10665, supporting Dr. Matthew Matasar's lymphoma research, or to Ocean Medical Center Foundation, c/o Matthew D. Lang, 425 Jack Martin Blvd., Brick, NJ 08724.

Mark D. Tarter

Dr. Tarter (Auburn '86), 56, Pittsburgh, died Aug. 9, 2018. A mixed animal veterinarian, he served as chief of staff at the Ross Township location of Banfield Pet Hospital in Pittsburgh. Earlier in his career, Dr. Tarter practiced in the Louisville area of Kentucky and worked for the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in New Albany, Georgia. His three sisters survive him.

Phillip D. Watson

Dr. Watson (Illinois '60), 82, Newburgh, Indiana, died Aug. 19, 2018. He began his career in mixed animal practice in Dwight, Illinois. From 1965-92, Dr. Watson owned small animal practices in Indianapolis. He subsequently returned to Illinois and worked in Champaign and Casey before retiring in 2000. Dr. Watson was a member of the Masonic Lodge. His wife, Joyce; three sons and a daughter; six grandchildren; and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 6100 Dutchman's Lane, Suite 401, Louisville, KY 40205, or Kindred Hospice, 323 Metro Ave., Evansville, IN 47715.

James H. "Buddy" Yarborough III

Dr. Yarborough (Auburn '64), 82, Miami, died Aug. 25, 2018. He and his wife, Dr. Charleen P. Yarborough (Auburn '64), co-owned Galloway Animal Clinic, a small and exotic animal practice in Miami, prior to their retirement in 1997. Dr. Yarborough was a member of the Miami Beach Rod & Reel Club, involved in the conservation of marine and freshwater fisheries. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son, and a grandchild. Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.

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