In Memory – May 8, 2025

Barry M. Adler

Dr. Adler (Ohio State ’77), 74, Lincroft, New Jersey, died March 4, 2025. He owned Woodbridge Veterinary Group in Woodbridge, New Jersey, for more than 40 years. Dr. Adler also served as the veterinarian for the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey, for 21 years. He was a past president of the New Jersey VMA and Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference and served on the New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for more than 20 years.

Dr. Adler is survived by his wife, Deborah; his daughter, Dr. Alex Adler McGrath (Ross ’14), and son, Dr. Samuel Adler (Virginia-Maryland ’17), who are also veterinarians; and three grandchildren. Memorials, may be made to the American Humane Society, 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Jeffrey Rex Byergo

Dr. Byergo (Missouri ’83), 67, Bronaugh, Missouri, died February 17, 2025. He was the founder of Countryside Animal Hospital in Nevada, Missouri. Dr. Byergo also raised Angus cattle for more than 30 years. He was a lifetime member of the American Angus Association. Dr. Byergo’s two sons and a stepson; three grandchildren; and three brothers and four sisters survive him. Memorials, toward the Junior Angus Association Scholarship Fund, may be sent c/o Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington St., Nevada, MO 64772.

Melvin B. Dennis

Dr. Dennis (Washington State ’61), 87, Seattle, died December 24, 2024. Following graduation, he served three years in the Army. Dr. Dennis subsequently practiced in Seattle for seven years. He then joined the University of Washington, where he began a career in research, becoming the chair of the Department of Comparative Medicine. Dr. Dennis was a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. His wife, Sheila; three sons; and 13 grandchildren survive him.

George F. Fischer

Dr. Fischer (Missouri ’54), 97, St. Joseph, Missouri, died April 9, 2025. He retired as a colonel from the Army Veterinary Corps in 1981. During his career with the corps, Dr. Fischer served as a post veterinarian and food inspector, and as commander of the veterinary detachment in Europe from 1973-76. He later served as the chief of quality assurance and technical operations for what was known as the Defense Personnel Support Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Fischer received several honors for his service, including the Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Superior Medal, and the Bronze Star.

Active in organized veterinary medicine, he was a past president of the Missouri VMA (MVMA) and Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practice and served on the board of directors of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation. In 2001, Dr. Fischer established the Carl Frederick Fischer and George Franklin Fischer Veterinary Medicine Scholarship at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in honor of his father, Dr. Carl F. Fischer (Kansas State ’12). In 2007, he was named MVMA Veterinarian of the Year.

Dr. Fischer is survived by a daughter, a son, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Memorials may be made to the Carl Frederick Fischer and George Franklin Fischer Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Fund, Advancement Office, W210 College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO 65211, or Faith United Church Building Fund, 3025 Karnes Road, St. Joseph, MO 64506.

Phillip Ray Gault

Dr. Gault (Mississippi State ’88), 61, Hartselle, Alabama, died January 10, 2025. He practiced at Pearson Animal Hospital in Hartselle. Dr. Gault is survived by his wife, Lisa; two sons and a daughter; two grandchildren; and two brothers. Memorials may be made to Clearview Cancer Institute, 3601 CCI Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35805, or Hospice of the Valley, 240 Johnston St. SE, Decatur, AL 35601.

Thomas I. Leininger

Dr. Leininger (Pennsylvania ’71), 80, Appleton, Wisconsin, died April 5, 2025. Following graduation, he served as a captain in the Air Force Veterinary Corps during the Vietnam War. Dr. Leininger subsequently worked at several practices in the Philadelphia area before taking ownership of Lake Road Animal Hospital in Horseheads, New York, where he practiced for 20 years. He then moved to Arizona, working in the Phoenix metro area. Dr. Leininger later became a certified chiropractitioner and established a holistic house call practice in the greater Scottsdale area. His wife, Kay; a son; two grandchildren; and a brother survive him.

Dean L. Moentman

Dr. Moentman (Illinois ’71), 77, Seminole, Florida, died March 25, 2025. Following graduation, he practiced in Decatur, Illinois, for a few years. Dr. Moentman subsequently moved to Florida, where he established The Animal Hospital of Largo in Largo. He semi-retired in 2006, serving later as a relief veterinarian in Florida’s Pinellas County for several years.

Dr. Moentman was a member of the Pinellas County VMA and Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; two daughters; six grandchildren; and a sister.

Michael Edward Wiggers Sr.

Dr. Wiggers (Georgia ’72), 77, Taylors, South Carolina, died January 24, 2025. Following graduation, he joined Ambassador Animal Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, as an associate veterinarian. In 2003, Dr. Wiggers took ownership of the practice. He retired in 2013.

Dr. Wiggers is survived by his wife, Christine; a son and a daughter; two grandchildren; and two brothers. Memorials may be made to Pomaria Lutheran Church, 210 Folk St., Pomaria, SC 29126, or Redeemer Lutheran Church Youth Group, 300 Oneal Road, Greer, SC 29651.

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.