AVMA News

In Memory – January 2, 2025

Updated January 15, 2025

Member status key:

AVMA member | AVMA honor roll member | Nonmember

Alan D. Cameron

Dr. Cameron (Auburn '67), 84, Minden, Louisiana, died July 26, 2024. Following graduation, he moved to Minden where he began his career. Dr. Cameron went on to establish Cameron Veterinary Hospital in Minden, practicing mixed animal medicine for more than 50 years. He also raised Scottish Highland cattle. Dr. Cameron was a member of the Lions Club. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; three daughters; five grandchildren and a stepgrandchild; five great-grandchildren and his step great-grandchildren; and a sister. Memorials may be made to Holy Angels School, 10450 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport, LA 71106.

Patricia J. Fales

Dr. Fales (Michigan State '66), 84, Falconer, New York, died May 9, 2024. Following graduation, she joined and took co-ownership of Falconer Veterinary Clinic, where she practiced with her husband, Dr. Roger F. Fales (Cornell '41), until his death in 2010. Dr. Fales continued her career at the practice, eventually joined by her daughter, Dr. Mary Fales (Ross '98). She also taught veterinary science at Jamestown Community College and the local 4-H Club.

Dr. Fales was a past secretary-treasurer of the Chautauqua County Veterinary Society and a member of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society. Active in her community, she was a past president of the Falconer Public Library and a past chair of Falconer's beautification committee. Dr. Fales is survived by her daughter, a stepson, six grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua County Veterinary Scholarship, c/o Chautauqua Regional Community Foundation, 518 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701, or the Falconer Public Library, 101 W. Main St., Falconer, NY 14733.

Thomas Mastin Keck

Dr. Keck (Washington State '82), 66, Rickreall, Oregon, died April 30, 2024. He practiced mixed animal medicine at Dallas Animal Clinic in Dallas, Oregon, for 42 years, prior to retirement in 2024. Dr. Keck was also the veterinarian for the Polk County Fair. He served on the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board and was active with the 4-H Club and National FFA Organization. Dr. Keck's wife, Maggie; three sons and a daughter; three grandchildren; and a sister and a brother survive him. Memorials may be made to Marion Polk Food Share, 1660 Salem Industrial Drive NE, Salem, OR 97301.

Joyce Ann Login

Dr. Login (Ohio State '88), 62, Princeton, New Jersey, died October 12, 2024. She began her career practicing small animal medicine in New Jersey. Dr. Login subsequently worked for several animal health companies, including Hill's Pet Nutrition, Novartis, and Bayer before joining Zoetis in 2010. During her time at Zoetis, Dr. Login served as a veterinary medical lead, supporting pain, oncology, and specialty products. She had a special interest in feline medicine along with the areas of veterinary communication, pain, and vector-borne diseases. Dr. Login is survived by a sister. Memorials may be made to Easel Animal Rescue League, 4 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing Township, NJ 08628, or EveryCat Health Foundation, 637 Wyckoff Ave., Suite 336, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.

Robert M. Miller

Dr. Miller (Colorado State '56), 97, Thousand Oaks, California, died November 16, 2024. A large and exotic animal veterinarian and equine behaviorist, he was known for his expertise in imprint training of foals and relationship-based horsemanship. Dr. Miller was also a veterinary and cowboy cartoonist who published several cartoon books under the moniker "RMM."

Following graduation, Dr. Miller founded Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Thousand Oaks, where he practiced until retirement in 1987. He then devoted himself full time to teaching equine behavior and supporting the relationship-based horsemanship movement, a philosophy based on understanding equine behavior and instincts for better communication and training. Dr. Miller also taught and promoted the principles of imprint training of foals, a form of natural horsemanship involving the techniques of handling newborn foals that assist in the development of a lifelong bond and trust with people.

He authored multiple books on equine health and behavior and served on the editorial staff of Veterinary Medicine magazine, featuring in the magazine's long-running "Mind Over Miller" column. Dr. Miller conducted horsemanship clinics and imprinted horses all over the world, including for therapeutic riding programs.

In 1995, he was awarded the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year from the AVMA. A year later, Dr. Miller received an AVMA President's Award. In 2004, he was inducted into the Western States Horse Expo Hall of Fame. Dr. Miller received the Western Horseman Award in 2012. Several collections of his cartoons have also been published and featured at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's Cowboy Cartoonists Art Show.

Dr. Miller was a member of the California VMA. He served in the Army during World War II. Dr. Miller is survived by his wife, Debby, and a son and a daughter. Memorials, toward the Dr. Robert M. Miller, DVM Academic Scholarship, for the Natural Horsemanship Program at the University of Montana Western (UMW), may be made to the UMW Foundation, 710 S. Atlantic St., Dillon, MT 59725, or toward a scholarship for a veterinary student specializing in equine science at Colorado State University (CSU), and sent to the CSU Foundation, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Collins, CO 80522.

Anthony W. Riepma

Dr. Riepma (Iowa State '50), 96, Katy, Texas, died October 21, 2024. He worked as an inspector in charge with the U.S. Department of Agriculture prior to retirement in 1998. Dr. Riepma previously served 20 years in the Army Veterinary Corps, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. During his military service, he was stationed in South Korea, Vietnam, and Germany. Dr. Riepma is survived by his daughter, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and two sisters. Memorials may be made to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, 8 Julian Bivins Ave., Boys Ranch, TX 79010.


Please report the death of a veterinarian promptly to the AVMA News staff via a toll-free phone call at 800-248-2862, ext. 6754; email at newsatavma [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.