AVMA member
AVMA Honor Roll Member
Martin L. Akins
Dr. Akins (California-Davis ’60), 85, Shaver Lake, Calif., died July 5, 2022. He practiced at Diamond Veterinary Medical Hospital in Visalia, Calif., where he was a Fellow until his retirement in 2000. Dr. Akins helped establish Tulare-Kings Veterinary Emergency Services in Visalia. He was a member of the California and Tulare-Kings VMAs and was active with Tulare County Animal Services, the Visalia Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and the American Heart Association. Dr. Akins is survived by his wife, Jeanette; two sons and a daughter; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made at Hinds Hospice, 2490 W. Shaw, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711; Shaver Lake Church, 41340 Tollhouse Road, Shaver Lake, CA 93664; or Visalia United Methodist Church, 5200 W. Caldwell Ave., Visalia, CA 93277.
James E. Ducey Sr.
Dr. Ducey (Georgia ’58), 87, Savannah, Georgia, died May 29, 2022. After graduation, he served in the military. In 1960, Dr. Ducey took over the practice owned by his father, Dr. Frederick E. Ducey Sr., in Savannah. Dr. James Ducey retired in 2020. He served in the Army Reserve for over 20 years, rising to the rank of Major. his wife, Jayne; three sons and two daughters; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren survive him. One brother, Dr. Frederick E. Ducey Jr. (Georgia ’50), was a veterinarian in Ridgeland, South Carolina, before his death. Memorials to the St. Peter the Apostle Church Organ Fund may be made at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 7020 Concord Road, Savannah, GA 31410.
James G. Fish
Dr. Fish (Texas A&M ’54), 92, Jacksonville, Fla., died July 13, 2022. After graduation, he served in the military. Dr. Fish then practiced small animal medicine at the San Juan Animal Hospital in Jacksonville for over 40 years. his wife, Janet; three children; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren survive him.
Donald R. Glotfelty
Dr. Glotfelty (Georgia ’56), 90, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, died June 4, 2022. After graduation, he served in the military for two years. Dr. Glotfelty then worked in a diagnostic laboratory at the University of Maryland. In 1961, he established a large animal practice in Garrett County, Maryland, also founding a dairy farm in the area. In 1975, Dr. Glotfelty moved to Pittsburgh, where he owned Plum Animal Clinic, a small animal practice, until his retirement in 2000.
He is survived by his partner, Betty Grossheim; two sons; two grandchildren; and a brother. Memorials may be addressed to The Salvation Army, 255 3rd St., New Kensington, PA 15068, or The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.
George A. Hofmann
Dr. Hofmann (Colorado State ’74), 84, Johnston, Iowa, died on May 13, 2022. He worked as a meat inspector for the United States Department of Agriculture. During this time, Dr. Hofmann also participated in the USDA Horse Protection Program and oversight of commercial dog breeding facilities. His wife, John; three daughters and one son; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother survive him.
Robert J. Luebke
Dr. Luebke (Colorado State ’58), 91, Ennis, Montana, died July 14, 2022. He was associated with Four Corners Veterinary Hospital, a small animal practice in Concord, California. Dr. Luebke also helped establish a veterinary emergency clinic in Contra Costa County, California. Early in his career, he worked in Chico, California. Dr. Luebke was a past president of the Contra Costa VMAs. He is survived by his wife, Nani; a son; and a grandson. Submissions can be made at Madison Valley Medical Center Foundation, PO Box 993, Ennis, MT 59729.
Richard H. McConnell
Dr. McConnell (Iowa State ’62), 83, Antigo, Wis., died July 27, 2022. Upon graduation, he joined the Air Force, stationed at Air Force Base Lackland in San Antonio. In 1964, Dr. McConnell moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he worked at Feist Animal Hospital. He then established his own practice in Newport, Minnesota. Dr. McConnell went on to found Park Grove Pet Hospital in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. He retired in 2015. Dr. McConnell is survived by his wife, Laurie; three daughters and one son; six grandchildren; and a sister and a brother.
Paul F.Raiti
Dr. Raiti, 70, Mount Vernon, New York, died on July 10, 2022. A 1979 graduate in veterinary medicine from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, he was the owner of Beverly Animal Hospital in Mount Vernon. Known for his expertise in reptile and amphibian medicine, Dr. Raiti was a past president of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. In 2010, he was one of the first five veterinarians to earn Diplomate status with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in the practice of reptiles and amphibians. Dr. Raiti is the author of several peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters and has co-edited two editions of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Manual of Reptiles. He is survived by his wife, Renie, and one daughter.
Earnest E. Seiler Jr.
Dr. Seiler (Colorado State ’64), 87, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, died June 2, 2022. After graduating he practiced in Orlando, Florida. In 1967, Dr. Seiler established the Seiler Animal Hospital in Fort Lauderdale. He also founded the Pet Emergency Center in Fort Lauderdale and owned the Broward Pet Cemetery and Crematorium in Plantation, Florida. Dr. Seiler was a member of the Florida VMA and served on several of its committees. He was a past president of the Fort Lauderdale Executives Association.
Dr. Seiler’s wife, Nancy; three daughters and two sons; 17 grandchildren; and a great-grandson survive him. Memorials to Orange Bowl Cares, a program that supports and rewards Florida teachers, can be made at the Orange Bowl Committee, 14360 NW 77th Court, Miami Lakes, FL 33016.
