AVMA News

In Memory – November 23, 2023

Updated December 28, 2023

Member status key:

AVMA member | AVMA honor roll member | Nonmember

Victor S. Cox Jr.

Dr. Cox (Cornell ’65), 82, St. Paul, Minnesota, died October 9, 2023. He was an associate professor emeritus in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. During his more than 40-year tenure, Dr. Cox served as an associate professor of anatomy and helped establish the gross anatomy laboratory at the veterinary college, where he developed techniques to increase the educational value of anatomic specimens. His clinical research focused on bovine lameness and alternative causes for downer cow syndrome.

Known for his expertise on the preservation of anatomic specimens, Dr. Cox was instrumental in founding the Veterinary Anatomy Museum at the veterinary college, serving as curator until his retirement. He also served as a graduate adviser for Minnesota’s veterinary exchange programs with Morocco and Uruguay. Earlier in his career, Dr. Cox was a professor of veterinary anatomy at the University of Missouri.

In 2004, while at Minnesota, he received what is now known as the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. A member of the Minnesota VMA (MNVMA), Dr. Cox was honored with the MNVMA Outstanding Faculty Award in 2005. The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine also bestowed teaching awards upon him in 2007 and 2009. Dr. Cox established the Dr. Vic Cox Bovine Medicine Scholarship at the University of Minnesota. He is survived by a son, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Regions Hospital Foundation, 640 Jackson St., Mailstop 11202C, St. Paul, MN 55101.

Joseph E. Currie

Dr. Currie (Georgia ’55), 92, West End, North Carolina, died September 18, 2023. He practiced 44 years at Sandhills Veterinary Hospital, a practice he first co-owned and later owned in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Dr. Currie also taught clinical pathology in the veterinary medical technology program at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford.

He helped establish the North Carolina Academy of Small Animal Medicine and was its charter president. A member of the North Carolina VMA (NCVMA), Dr. Currie served on its executive board and was a past chair of the NCVMA Ethics and Grievances and Continuing Education committees. In 1990, he received the NCVMA Distinguished Veterinarian of the Year Award. Dr. Currie served on the executive board and was treasurer of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation and served on the board of directors of the Companion Animal Clinic Foundation.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; three children; and nine grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church Music Endowment Fund, 330 S. May St., Southern Pines, NC 28387, or the Companion Animal Clinic Foundation, P.O. Box 148, Southern Pines, NC 28387.

Dennis M. Farrell

Dr. Farrell, 71, Hampton Bays, New York, died May 22, 2023. A 1981 veterinary graduate of the University of Turin in Italy, he owned a large animal practice, focusing on equine medicine, in Hampton Bays. Dr. Farrell also served as the veterinarian for the mounted unit of the New York Police Department for 37 years. His wife, Doreen; three sons and three daughters; and nine grandchildren survive him.

David C. Fuchshuber

Dr. Fuchshuber (Texas A&M ’72), 83, Fort Worth, Texas, died July 16, 2023. He owned Eastern Hills Pet Hospital, a small animal practice in Fort Worth. A member of the Fort Worth Kennel Club, he also served as veterinarian for its annual dog show. Dr. Fuchshuber is survived by a brother. Memorials may be made to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840, or to the Rakow Research Library, Corning Museum of Glass, 1 Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830.

David F. Nahrwold

Dr. Nahrwold (Purdue ’78), 69, Woodburn, Indiana, died October 4, 2023. Following graduation, he practiced at Shelbyville Animal Clinic in Shelbyville, Indiana, and Manchester Veterinary Clinic in North Manchester, Indiana. In 1987, Dr. Nahrwold established Maumee Valley Veterinary Clinic in Woodburn. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; two daughters and a son; and seven grandchildren. Dr. Nahrwold’s son, Dr. Seth Nahrwold (Purdue ’13), is also a veterinarian. Memorials, toward the Veterinary Medicine Class of 1978 Fund, may be made to the Purdue Foundation, Gift Processing, P.O. Box 772401, Detroit, MI 48277, or Ascension Lutheran Church, 8811 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46835.

Richard Roberts

Dr. Roberts (Ohio State ’59), 87, Rocky River, Ohio, died October 7, 2023. Following graduation, he joined what is now known as Roberts & Wendt Animal Hospital, a practice established by his father, Dr. Harry B. Roberts, in Lakewood, Ohio. Dr. Roberts served more than 40 years as a partner at the practice, focusing on small animals. His son, daughter, a grandchild, and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to Berea Animal Rescue Friends, P.O. Box 544, Berea, OH 44017.

Curtis L. Sanford

Dr. Sanford (Minnesota ’90), 59, Minneapolis, died August 11, 2023. He owned a small animal practice in Minneapolis until 2018. Earlier in his career, Dr. Sanford served as an associate veterinarian at Roseville Animal Hospital in Roseville, Minnesota, and owned Willmar Pet Hospital in Willmar, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife, Lisa; a son; his mother; and his siblings. Memorials may be made to Oligo Nation, 1325 Schaefer Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472.

Arthur W. Tremper

Dr. Tremper (Michigan State ’67), 79, Chelsea, Michigan, died September 29, 2023. He was a partner at Lane Animal Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Chelsea, prior to retirement in 2019. Dr. Tremper is survived by his wife, Lee; three children; three grandchildren; and four siblings. Memorials may be made to Arbor Hospice, 2366 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48103; Humane Society of Huron Valley, 3100 Cherry Hill Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; or St. Louis Center, 16195 W. Old US Highway 12, Chelsea, MI 48118.

Russell L. Wambeam

Dr. Wambeam (Minnesota ’65), 88, Laramie, Wyoming, died July 18, 2023. Following graduation, he practiced in Minnesota, including four years in the Twin Cities. Dr. Wambeam subsequently worked 10 years as a federal veterinarian in Wyoming. He then established a practice in Laramie, also teaching part time at the University of Wyoming. His four children and five grandchildren survive him.

Fred D. Wingert

Dr. Wingert (Kansas State ’56), 90, Wichita, Kansas, died August 9, 2023. He owned Wingert Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Wichita, prior to retirement. Earlier in his career, Dr. Wingert served in the Army and practiced mixed animal medicine in Atchison, Kansas. He was a member of the American Animal Hospital Association and Kansas VMA. Dr. Wingert is survived by three daughters, a son, seven grandchildren, and two brothers. His son, Dr. Bart Wingert (Kansas State ’85), is also a veterinarian. Other veterinarians in Dr. Wingert’s family are his brother, Dr. Robert Wingert (Kansas State ’66); his daughter-in-law, Dr. Sue Wingert (Kansas State ’85); his nephew, Dr. Matthew Wingert (Kansas State ’95); and his granddaughter, Dr. Allie Wingert (Kansas State ’17). Memorials may be made to the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside St., Wichita, KS 67219, or Wichita Presbyterian Manor, 4700 W. 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67212.

Correction: A previous version of this story had the incorrect number of brothers for Dr. David C Fuchshuber.

A version of this story appears in the February 2024 print issue of JAVMA


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.