Paul L. Veum, ’71 DVM, Port Charlotte, Fla., died December 4, 2012 at 66. After receiving his DVM he started his own practice, Veum Veterinarians, with his brother, Cedric. Veum also served as the Wisconsin State Vice President. He is survived by his wife, Carol; brothers David and Cedric; two children; and two grandchildren.

Roger Pitts, ’79 DVM, Duluth, Minn., died June 5, 2020 at 72. Prior to receiving his DVM, Pitts served in the United States Air Force from 1968-72. Pitts found a passion for teaching the upcoming generation of veterinarians at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, before moving to Denver, Co., and becoming the first board certified internist in private practice in the city. He then moved to Duluth, Minn., where he started a veterinary referral clinic and volunteered his veterinary services to Animal Allies Humane Society. He is survived by his wife, Anne Bernauer. 

Apryl Kaufman Goffinet, '75 DVM, Geneva, N.Y., passed away in July 2019 at 70. She is survived by her husband, Martin, and two sons, Samuel and Daniel.

Michael E. Richardson, '74 BS, '76 DVM, Stillwater, Minn., passed away on January 24 at 67. After graduating from the CVM, Richardson worked at Roseville Animal Hospital for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, Pam; his parents; his brother, Robert; and three stepsons and nieces.

Keith Friendshuh, '70 DVM, Annandale, Minn., passed away on February 15 at 74. After graduating from the CVM, Friendshuh practiced veterinary medicine in Annandale, then dedicated his time to the Board of Animal Health for the State of Minnesota. He is survived by his wife, Cherry; two children; and four grandchildren.

Theresa A. Damiano, ’79 DVM, Clifton NJ, died April 11 at 67. Damiano openedHanover Veterinary Hospital in East Hanover, NJ, where she tended to a wide variety of animals for over 20 years before retiring in the early 2000’s. She rescued older dogs and cats that could not find homes due to their age. She was also an avid equestrian. Damiano is predeceased by 1 step-child and survived by her husband, John; and 3 step-children.

René A. Carlson, ’76 BS, ’78 DVM, Chetek, Wisc., died March 29 at 64. Carlson started her professional career serving a clinical internship at Rowley Memorial Hospital in Springfield, MA. She practiced in Elmwood and Madison. Wisc., before moving to Chetek in 1990. In 1996, She built the Animal Hospital of Chetek.

Carlson was elected President of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVA) in 1994. She was the first woman to hold that office. In 2001, she was voted Wisconsin's Veterinarian of the Year by her colleagues. She served as the Wisconsin delegate in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) House of Delegates from 1995 through 2003 and was elected to a two year term as AVMA vice president in 2004.

In 2010, Carlson was elected president-elect of the AVMA and became president in 2011. In 2013, she was appointed director of international affairs for the AVMA. In 2014, she was elected president of the World Veterinary Association (WVA), the first woman to hold that office. Carlson traveled to over thirty countries to promote veterinary causes during her term, which ended in 2017. She also served the AVMA on the Council of Education and on the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. In 2018, the AVMA awarded her the Global Veterinary Service Award for promoting veterinary medicine worldwide. She was also honored with a lifetime honorary membership in the WVA. This year, during International Woman's Day, Carlson was named to the list of groundbreaking women in veterinary medicine. She loved mentoring young veterinarians in leadership skills. Carlson is survived by her husband, Mark.

Sheldon G. Malmedal, ’73 DVM, Linton, N.D., died January 5 at 71. After completing his DVM, he moved to Dickinson, N.D., and practiced veterinary medicine until 1975 when he moved to Linton, N.D., and began the Linton Veterinary Practice Malmedal. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; 4 children; and 13 grandchildren.

Dean H. Franz, ’71 DVM, Northfield, Minn., died February 7 at 72. Franz practiced dairy veterinary medicine. He is survived by his wife, Pam; 5 children; and 9 grandchildren.