1970s
Norman Haber, V’79, retired after more than 30 years at Cedar Brook Animal Hospital, which he founded.
Don Mullen, V’79, retired after 43 years of providing care to shoreline pets and their families at Guilford Veterinary Hospital in Connecticut.
1980s
Renate Reimschuessel, V’81, recently published on interlaboratory comparison of SARS-CoV2 molecular detection assays in use by US veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
Paul Calle, V’83, received the 2021 Emil Dolensek Award from the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV). The award is presented to a past or present member of the AAZV in appreciation for exceptional contributions to the conservation, care, and understanding of zoo and free-ranging wildlife.
1990s
Alisa Siceloff, V’97, joined the University of Wyoming’s Division of Kinesiology and Health as an assistant lecturer in January 2020, teaching courses in community and public health. She was selected as faculty cohort for the 2022 UW in Scotland program and will travel this summer to develop a class abroad.
2010s
Colin McDermott, V’11, recently achieved board certification through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in reptile and amphibian medicine. He currently lives and practices in Hong Kong.
Lisa Gretebeck, V’14, was profiled in Kiplinger magazine, discussing veterinary work during the pandemic. (Read the article at https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/careers/career-paths/603316/the-pandemic-pet-problem.)
2020s
Shira T. Rosenblum, V’20, and Lilly Aronson, V’92, will have their paper, “Indications, Outcome, and Prognosis for Dogs Undergoing Typhlectomy Surgery: A Retrospective Study of 15 Cases” from 2012 to 2020 published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Remembrances
1950s
George P. Wilson, V’55, passed away in December 2021. After receiving his VMD and completing an internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, Wilson joined Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1956. He received his Master of Science in 1959 and passed the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) board exam in 1968, the first year it was given, being admitted as a diplomate. An emeritus professor, Wilson was a founding faculty member in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Ohio State in 1970. He spent his entire career at Ohio State, retiring in 1988. He held various positions throughout his tenure, including chair of the Department of Anatomy. He received the ACVS Foundation’s first Legends Award in 2005, which recognizes ACVS diplomates who have developed a surgical or diagnostic procedure of significant value, proven by becoming the treatment or test of choice for a given condition. This award was bestowed upon Wilson for development of perineal urethrostomy in cats, a procedure that is still being performed 50 years later to manage cats with recurrent urinary stones and feline urologic syndrome.
1960s
Ellsworth Bacon Thorndike, V’64, passed away in January 2022. After an internship at the Henry Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City, he was hired as an associate and soon became a partner at Miller Clark Animal Hospital, Mamaroneck, New York. He served on the Board of the Westchester Shore Humane Society and was an active member of the Westchester Rockland Veterinary Association. In 1989, he was a driving force in establishing the Veterinary Emergency Group in White Plains, New York. He was appointed to the New York State Education Department Board for Veterinary Medicine, served two five-year terms and was elected president. After retiring, he moved to New York City, where he went to work for Animal Care and Control of NYC, riding his Vespa to neighborhoods throughout the city to provide spay/neuter services for underserved communities.
Patrick Tersigni, V’65, passed away in December 2021. He owned and operated his own practice for 12 years in New Jersey. After moving to Wayland, New York in 1977, Tersigni continued his practice there for 44 years. He was a devoted and faithful veterinarian to his clients and treated more than 100,000 animals throughout his career.
1980s
Kenneth Harkewicz, V’81, passed away in August 2021. After graduation, he completed a 20-month postdoctorate externship in wildlife medicine in Queensland, Australia, working with small marsupials, reptiles, and amphibians. He then worked as an exotic animal veterinarian in the Bay Area. He was a pastpresident of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (2011–2012) and served as a consultant on reptile and amphibian care for the Veterinary Information Network. Harkewicz lectured on reptiles and amphibians for veterinary technology, pre-veterinary, and veterinary medical students at the University of California (UC) Berkeley and UC Davis, as well as at local reptile and amphibian associations.
Michael P. Comalli, V’86, passed away in November 2021. He was the beloved husband of Lila J. Comalli, V’86, with whom he shared 35 years of marriage. For the past 30 years, the couple worked as veterinarians at Conrad Weiser Animal Hospital, the business they started together, in Bucks County, PA.
Jean Townsend, V’89, passed away after a long illness in October 2021. Aside from being a breeder of Siamese cats, Townsend was involved with the Maryland Feline Association. She was also responsible for multiple trap-neuter-release programs around the state of Maryland. She ran a successful house call practice in the Baltimore area until retirement.
1990s
Mari Sue Berens, V’96, passed away in October 2021. Berens worked for many years at Washington Crossing Animal Hospital in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, until her retirement. Previously she worked at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital and Twin Rivers Animal Hospital in New Jersey.