In Memory – February 13, 2025

Niles David Farris

Dr. Farris (Ohio State ’69), 83, Federal Way, Washington, died June 19, 2024. He was the founder of Cascade Veterinary Hospital in Federal Way, where he practiced small animal medicine for more than 40 years. Early in his career, Dr. Farris served two years as a captain in the Army. His wife, Pamela; two daughters and a son; and six grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Girard College, 2101 S. College Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19121.

Venton D. Goodnight

Dr. Goodnight (Missouri ’54), 101, Independence, Missouri, died September 3, 2024. He practiced small animal medicine in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Goodnight worked in Sedalia, Missouri, and served as a meat inspector with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a lifetime member of the Missouri VMA. Dr. Goodnight served in the Navy during World War II, attaining the rank of lieutenant. His daughter, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Southwest Baptist University, 1600 University Ave., Bolivar, MO 65613; Masonic Home of Missouri, 6033 N. Masonic Drive, Columbia, MO 65202; or Salvation Army, P.O. Box 5023, Harlan, IA 51593.

David J. Groblewski

Dr. Groblewski (Tennessee ’88), 65, Wappingers Falls, New York, died December 22, 2024. He co-owned a small animal practice in Yorktown Heights, New York, with his wife, Dr. Nancy Delaney (Tennessee ’88), prior to retirement in 2023. Dr. Groblewski is survived by his wife. Memorials may be made to the ALS Association, Development Department, 1275 K St. NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20005.

Thomas Frank Harbin Jr.

Dr. Harbin (Auburn ’79), 72, Mathews, Alabama, died July 4, 2024. Following graduation, he worked briefly in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Harbin subsequently moved to Manchester, Tennessee, where he owned Animal Health Clinic for 35 years. He later returned to Alabama, practicing part time at Golden Animal Hospital in Pike Road and, more recently, at Partners for Pets Veterinary Hospital in Pike Road. During his career, Dr. Harbin also lectured at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and founded Tom Harbin Reptiles, specializing in ball pythons and other reptiles. He is survived by his wife, Sarah; two sons; two grandchildren; and a brother. Memorials, toward the Dr. Tom Harbin Reptiles Memorial Endowed Scholarship, may be made to Auburn University Foundation, 317 S. College St., Auburn, Alabama 36849.

Roger B. Harvey

Dr. Harvey (Texas A&M ’69), 77, College Station, Texas, died June 23, 2024. Following graduation, he served in the Army for three years. Dr. Harvey subsequently practiced in Texas at San Antonio and San Marcos. He then served as poultry extension veterinarian with the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension Service in College Station, later directing technical services for Agri-Bio Corporation in Gainesville, Georgia.

Dr. Harvey went on to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service, working as a veterinary medical officer and scientist. During his tenure, he conducted research on foodborne pathogens and food safety and was known for his expertise on the effects of mycotoxins in poultry and mammals. In 1991, Dr. Harvey received the National Association of Federal Veterinarians’ Daniel E. Salmon Award for his research leading to the development of technology to protect farm animals from the effects of mycotoxins. That same year, he was also honored as the USDA’s Outstanding Early Career Research Scientist.

Dr. Harvey was a veteran of the Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of colonel in 1998. His military honors included the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon. Dr. Harvey is survived by his wife, Anna Bell; two children; five grandchildren; and a sister.

Frederick W. Johnson

Dr. Johnson (Cornell ’67), 83, North Providence, Rhode Island, died December 7, 2024. From 2010 until retirement in 2024, he practiced at Sturbridge Veterinary Hospital in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Earlier in his career, Dr. Johnson worked at Edmund’s Veterinary Hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts, and owned Dennis Animal Hospital in Dennis, Massachusetts, for more than 35 years. A past president of the Massachusetts VMA, he served on the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District’s School Committee and was a member of the Rotary Club of Harwich Dennis. Dr. Johnson is survived by two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, a sister, and a brother. His daughter, Dr. Kate Dodge (Pennsylvania ’03), is also a veterinarian. Memorials may be made to the Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England, P.O. Box 3221, North Attleboro, MA 02761, or the McCarthy Care Center, 73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537.

Melvin F. Kirchhoff

Dr. Kirchhoff (Minnesota ’57), 91, Kenyon, Minnesota, died October 22, 2024. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Mobridge, South Dakota. In 1958, Dr. Kirchhoff moved to Kenyon, where he practiced primarily large animal medicine at Kenyon Veterinary Clinic. He retired in 1991. Dr. Kirchhoff was a member of the Minnesota VMA (MVMA) and a charter member of the MVMA Academy of Veterinary Medical Practice. He is survived by his wife, Kayo; three sons; and four grandchildren.

Melissa A. Kling

Dr. Kling (Georgia ’83), 65, Macon, Georgia, died September 19, 2024. She was an attending veterinarian and director of Mercer University School of Medicine’s animal care facility in Macon. Dr. Kling also practiced exotic animal medicine part time.

A founder of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV), she served the association as executive director, secretary, and treasurer, and was a member of many of its committees. Dr. Kling also served on Mercer University School of Medicine’s admission committee and the development committee of Vital Ground Foundation, a land trust dedicated to large-landscape conservation for the benefit of grizzly bears, other wildlife, and people. A frequent moderator and instructor in the field of exotic mammal medicine, she was involved with the organization of the International Conference on Avian, Herpetological, Exotic Mammal, Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.

In 2024, Dr. Kling was honored with the AEMV-Oxbow Animal Health’s Oxbow Exotic Mammal Health Award. She is survived by her husband, Pep Newberry. Dr. Kling’s father, Dr. James Malcolm Kling (Georgia ’59), was also a veterinarian (see obituary). Memorials may be made to Vital Ground Foundation, 30 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804; toward the Apitherapy Endowment in the name of Dr. James Malcolm Kling at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and sent to the UGA Foundation, Attn: Gift Accounting, 1 Press Place, Suite 101, Athens, GA 30601; or to the AEMV Melissa Kling Scholarship, Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, P.O. Box 1868, Mount Juliet, TN 37121.

Dennis K. McIntosh

Dr. McIntosh (Texas A&M ’68), 83, Seguin, Texas, died October 13, 2024. He owned El Dorado Animal Hospital in San Antonio. A past president of the Texas VMA and Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice, Dr. McIntosh was a member of the Veterinary Medical Association of Bexar County and Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. He was also a past chairman of Palo Alto Community College’s animal health technology committee. Dr. McIntosh served in the Air Force Veterinary Corps during the Vietnam War. He is survived by a son, a daughter, a grandchild, two sisters, and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Guadalupe County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1593, Seguin, TX 78155.

John Robert Minor

Dr. Minor (Colorado ’70), 79, Forest Grove, Oregon, died September 11, 2024. He practiced in the Forest Grove and Hillsboro areas of Oregon for nearly 50 years. Active in his community, Dr. Minor was a past president of the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce and served as a councilman for the city. He also served as president of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove and was a Paul Harris fellow. Dr. Minor is survived by his wife, Jennifer; three sons; eight grandchildren; and two sisters. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116.

Please report the death of a veterinarian to the AVMA 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, AVMA News must be notified within six months of the date of death.