1960s
Gustavo D. Aguirre, V’68, received the 2020 Sanford and Susan Greenberg End Blindness Outstanding Achievement Prize, which distinguishes scientists for their groundbreaking medical contributions to eradicate blindness.
1970s
Susan Horowitz, V’72, provided veterinary care for small animals in the Groton, Massachusetts, area from 1977 until her retirement in 2020. As one of the first female veterinary graduates from her college, and the founder of one of the first female-owned veterinary clinics, she led the way for the many women who have followed in her footsteps.
Steven Radbill, V’75, sold his practice, Radbill Animal Hospital, to World of Animals on September 14. He previously sold his Rittenhouse location in 2012. He will be working at their Bethayres office for at least three years and is enjoying working at a multi-doctor practice with many challenges and wonderful staff.
Lloyd “Jock” P. Tate, Jr., V’75, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, DABLSM, MFH, received the 2020 ACVS Foundation Legends Award for his dedication and contributions to the field of veterinary surgery. Tate is a North Carolina State University professor emeritus of equine surgery. His most important accomplishment is the introduction of transendoscopic laser ventriculectomy, but he has also developed innovative uses of transendoscopic surgery, including the treatment of guttural pouch tympanites in the foal, the treatment of equine pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia and other obstructive masses in the upper airway, and rapid removal of mycotic plaques within the guttural pouch.
Scott Palmer, V’76, was presented with the American Association of Equine Practitioners 2020 Sage Kester Beyond the Call Award in December. The award recognizes a current or former AAEP member who has made significant and long-lasting contributions to equine veterinary medicine and the community.
1980s
James Dougherty, V’80, was elected to the Rutgers University Board of Governors, beginning a six-year term on July 1, 2020, after completing eight years on the Board of Trustees, which he chaired during his last year.
Diane Eigner, V’80, is the 2021 president-elect of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care and chair of its Certification Committee.
Jonathan Leach, V’81, was selected as Cape Cod’s Best Veterinarian in 2020 by the Cape Cod Times.
Salvatore Frasca, V’88, was appointed director of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.
1990s
Amy Grice, V’90, a veterinary business consultant in Virginia City, Montana, was appointed treasurer of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Scott Weber, V’97, joined Penn Vet’s Wildlife Futures Program as communications liaison and senior research investigator in August 2020.
2000s
Michelle Mayers, V’00, was named Veterinarian of the Year at the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians (SCAV) Annual Conference this November. Presented to the veterinarian who has served SCAV, the community, and their fellow veterinarians in a way that exemplifies the highest ideals of the profession. Mayers led a statewide campaign about the importance of pet restraints while traveling in an automobile.
Remembrances
1940s
Richard Ainley, V’48, passed away on October 21, 2020. While he was attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, the Army Medical Corp drafted him to serve the 139th Evacuation Hospital in Europe. As a Surgical Technician (Tech 4), he treated survivors of Ebensee concentration camp in Austria. After returning to school and graduating, he moved to Santa Maria, California, where he purchased a practice, The Pet Hospital. He retired in 1983.
1950s
John Fague, V’51, passed away on November 23, 2020. He practiced veterinary medicine in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and was a past president of the Cumberland Valley Veterinary Association, Pennsylvania Veterinary Medicine Association, American Veterinary Medicine Association, and Cumberland Valley Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Fague was also a World War II Army veteran and a Bronze Star Medal recipient. He served in General George S. Patton’s Third Army and in the Battle of the Bulge.
Charles Fager IV, V’55, passed away on February 26, 2021. Fager owned the Camp Hill Animal Hospital with his brother, Dr. Hummel Fager, V’53. Dr. Fager served as a radio-gunner on a B-17 during World War II in Italy. He received the Air Metal and two Oak Leaf Clusters; the EAME Theater Ribbon, four Bronze Stars and the Distinguished Unit Citation Badge.
Walter F. Loeb, V’55, passed away on December 24, 2020. After graduating from Penn Vet, he earned an MS at Ohio State University and a PhD at Michigan State University. Loeb was a dedicated veterinary pathologist who specialized in laboratory animal research. His work included founding a pioneering reference laboratory and co-editing a comprehensive textbook used by scientists engaged in animal model research that directly and indirectly contributed to the development of new drugs to treat diseases. A pioneer in toxicologic pathology, he helped to validate the attitude of peer review and good laboratory practice in toxicology research. He was elected councilor for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP), president of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, and chairman of the Division of Animal Clinical Chemistry in the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). He received the AACC Award for Outstanding Contributions to Animal Clinical Chemistry as well as the Barbara Jean Thompson Award for Outstanding Service to the Charles Louis Davis Foundation for the Advancement of Veterinary and Comparative Pathology. In 2005, the ACVP also recognized Loeb as a distinguished member.
Beecher Watson, Sr., V’58, passed away on September 30, 2020. He began his veterinary practice in Blackstone, Virginia, then joined a practice in Petersburg, and finally started a solo practice in Amelia County, where he specialized in treating dairy cattle. Watson, owner of Amelia Bovine Clinic, worked as a veterinarian until his death. In 1988, the Virginia governor appointed Watson to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, and in 1989 to the Board of Health Professions; Watson proudly served on both boards until 1993. The Virginia Veterinary Medical Association honored Watson in 2012 with the Distinguished Virginia Veterinarian Award. He is survived by his son, Beecher Hartley Watson, Jr., V’82.
1960s
Larry A. Schmuck, V’60, passed away on October 22, 2020. He served the Southern Lancaster County farming community for over forty-two years.
Donald Arthur Gooss, Sr., V’63, passed away on January 7, 2021. He practiced veterinary medicine at Georgetown Animal Hospital and then Selbyville Animal Hospital for forty-three years. He is survived by his two sons, Donald Gooss Jr., V’93, and John Gooss, V’90.
Albert Barnet V’65, passed away on March 25, 2021. He worked as a self-employed veterinarian for over 50 years. Albert was a member of the PA Farm Bureau, Somerset County Beef Producers, Somerset County Horse Pullers, and Veterinary for Alaskan Iditarod.
1970s
A. Hunter Wilcox, V’71, passed away on January 25, 2021. He worked as a veterinarian at the Cherry Hill Animal Hospital from 1972 until his retirement in 2013. In 1976, he became co-owner with his partner and dear friend Charles Chase, V’71. He served on the board of New Jersey Veterinary Medical Examiners, as an officer of the SJVA, and as a member of other professional veterinary associations. His passion was training and competitively running English pointers in the sport of field trialing. He remained an active member of the English Setter Club of New Jersey, serving as board member since 1977 and as president from 1992 to 1998.
Thomas J. Weiner, V’78, passed away on December 1, 2020. After graduating from veterinary school, Weiner and his wife purchased a house in Tabernacle, New Jersey, in 1980 and converted a three-car garage into the Animal Clinic of Tabernacle. Their home-based veterinary practice served the Medford/ Tabernacle community for thirty-nine years. Weiner took pride in being a veterinarian who made house calls. He served on Penn Vet’s Board for several years and helped establish the Class of 1978 Endowed Scholarship Fund as well as the Matthew R. Weiner Cardiomyopathy Study Fund at Penn Vet. He is survived by his family, including Cristina Weiner, V’07, and her husband, Tyler Hotaling, V’07.