In Memory – April 11, 2024

Robert R. Baker

Dr. Baker (Iowa State ’77), 71, Oakfield, Wisconsin, died January 31, 2024. Following graduation, he joined the Brownsville Veterinary Clinic in Brownsville, Wisconsin. Dr. Baker assisted with animal projects at the Fond du Lac County Fair. He was a member of the Oakfield FFA Alumni. Dr. Baker’s wife, Julie; four daughters; five grandchildren; and a brother and a sister survive him.

Randy J. Boudrieau

Dr. Boudrieau (Washington State ’78), 72, Sherborn, Massachusetts, died November 29, 2023. Following graduation and after completing a surgical internship and residency, he joined the veterinary faculty at Tufts University. During his tenure, Dr. Boudrieau taught and served as a small animal surgeon, focusing on orthopedics. He retired in 2018 as a professor emeritus of clinical sciences.

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and European College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dr. Boudrieau was a past president of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society and an ACVS founding fellow of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Active with AO VET North America, a community of veterinary surgeons, he served several decades as an instructor for the AO Association for the Study of Internal Fixation.

Dr. Boudrieau is survived by his wife, Dr. Leslie Williams (Oklahoma State ’84), also a veterinarian, and a sister. Memorials may be made to the The Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215; Boston Ballet, Development Department, 19 Clarendon St., Boston, MA 02116; or The Greater Boston Food Bank, 70 South Bay Ave., Boston, MA 02118.

David S. Corwin

Dr. Corwin (Purdue ’76), 77, Sidney, Maine, died August 13, 2023. Following graduation, he moved to Maine, where he established Animal Hospital of Waterville in Waterville. In 2002, Dr. Corwin retired from full-time practice, continuing to work part time until 2020 at local clinics. During that period, he helped establish the Waterville Humane Society. Dr. Corwin’s wife, Carol; two daughters and a son; two grandchildren; and a sister survive him. Memorials, toward pediatric programs, may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center, 101 W. Main St., Peoria, IL 61602.

Larry K. Dresher

Dr. Dresher (Kansas State ’67), 84, Prineville, Oregon, died February 27, 2024. Primarily an equine veterinarian, he co-owned Conejo Valley Veterinary Clinic in Thousand Oaks, California, for 33 years, where he served as chief of staff. During his career, Dr. Dresher also worked in Dinuba, California. From 2010-13, he was a volunteer veterinarian for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. In retirement, Dr. Dresher served as a relief veterinarian and a veterinary judge for endurance rides, and was a consultant.

A past president of the Santa Barbara-Ventura VMA, he was also active with the American Association of Equine Practitioners and was a member of the California and International Sled Dog VMAs. In 2010, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine honored Dr. Dresher with its Alumni Recognition Award. His wife, Madeline; a son, a daughter, a stepson, and a stepdaughter; two grandchildren and four stepgrandchildren; and a brother survive him.

Cynthia L. North

Dr. North (Oklahoma State ’90), 60, Hamilton, New Jersey, died February 26, 2024. She served as director of veterinary professional services at Zoetis. Earlier in her career, Dr. North was in private practice for several years and worked for Pfizer Animal Health, which became Zoetis. She is survived by her mother and a sister.

Terrance P. O’Leary

Dr. O’Leary (Iowa State ’65), 87, Centerville, Minnesota, died January 3, 2024. He was a past assistant dean of student affairs at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure, Dr. O’Leary served more than 30 years as a member of the faculty in what is now known as the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and as a pathologist at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. 

A life member of the Minnesota VMA (MVMA), he was active with the MVMA Governmental Affairs Committee, and was a past recipient of the MVMA Distinguished Service Award. Dr. O’Leary was a member of the Falcon Heights-Lauderdale Lions Club and a veteran of the Marine Corps. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Barbara O’Leary (Minnesota ’76), also a veterinarian; a son; three grandchildren; and a brother and a sister.

Thomas Andrew Portillo

Dr. Portillo (Colorado State ’97), 57, Amarillo, Texas, died December 1, 2023. He worked for Veterinary Research and Consulting Services, a group of veterinarians specializing in feedlot production medicine and research. Known for his expertise in beef production medicine, Dr. Portillo was active for more than 20 years in the cattle industry, including private practice and feedyard consulting. During that time, he served as a technical services veterinarian for a pharmaceutical company and directed animal heath for Friona Industries, a cattle feeding company in Amarillo.

A past president of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), Dr. Portillo served as a director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, chaired the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Cattle Health and Well-Being Committee, and served on the AVMA Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee. He was a founding member of Colorado State University’s AgNext Industry Innovation Working Group and served as program chair for feedlot sessions at annual conferences of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and as feedlot session coordinator for the Western Veterinary Conference, now known as the Viticus Group’s WVC conference. In 2015, Dr. Portillo was named AVC Consultant of the Year. In 2016, he received the AABP Award for Excellence in Preventive Veterinary Medicine-Beef Cattle.

Dr. Portillo is survived by his wife, Jacque Kay; two sons and two daughters; his mother; and his siblings. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Norman K. Smith

Dr. Smith (California-Davis ’87), 66, Yucca Valley, California, died February 21, 2024. He was the founder of Companion Animal Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Yucca Valley. Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Shara; two sons; a grandchild; and a sister.

Byron M. Sugden

Dr. Sugden (Minnesota ’71), 77, Effie, Minnesota, died January 24, 2024. Following graduation, he established Grand Rapids Veterinary Clinic in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. In 1978, Dr. Sugden founded Bigfork Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Bigfork, Minnesota. He later took over another practice in Ely, Minnesota, which he owned until 1993. After that, he worked solely at Bigfork Veterinary Clinic, retiring in 2022. Dr. Sugden was a member of the Minnesota and Arrowhead VMAs. He is survived by his wife, Ann, and two brothers and two sisters.

Carvel G. Tiekert

Dr. Tiekert (Cornell ’63), 85, Abingdon, Maryland, died February 17, 2024. Following graduation, he served four years in the Army, attaining the rank of lieutenant. Dr. Tiekert subsequently practiced mixed animal medicine in Connecticut before buying the Animal Hospital of Harford County in Bel Air, Maryland, where he worked until 2006. He then practiced at the Animal Care Center & Pet Resort in Joppa, Maryland.

In 1982, Dr. Tiekert founded the American Holistic VMA, later receiving certification in veterinary acupuncture and veterinary chiropractic. Over the years, he served the association in various roles, including president, executive director, and newsletter editor. Dr. Tiekert was also a past president of the Maryland VMA (MDVMA). The MDVMA honored him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and 2021.

Dr. Tiekert is survived by two brothers. Memorials may be made to the Carvel and Lorraine Tiekert Scholarship Fund, c/o the Maryland Veterinary Foundation, P.O. Box 363, Hershey, PA 17033.

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 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.