All of us at The Gabriel Foundation are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Dr. Brad, a most kind, compassionate, and caring man, beloved husband to Christine, his mother Shirley, brother Don, and sisters Shari and Kathy, along with many nieces and nephews, as well as colleagues at A-4 Animal Hospital in Lincoln, NE. We send our deepest condolences to Christine and to all those who knew and loved Dr. G. He will be sorely missed, but leaves the world a better place for each of us through his dedication and love for so many birds and animals that were able to call him their veterinarian.

We experienced first-hand his love for our feathered friends when he and Christine adopted Lani, f., and Peachy, m., both Moluccan cockatoos, on December 3, 2005. Dr. Gengenbach and Christine remained generous donors to TGF post-adoption. It was always wonderful to see him at the annual Association of Avian Veterinarians Conference where we had a short but opportune time to catch up. Dr. G referred many people to TGF who in need of placing their bird, wanted to add on to their avian family members, and others who reached out to us for all things bird-related.

We are so thankful for the memorial donations that many of his family, friends, colleagues, and clients have shared with TGF. We are honored to receive these gifts in honor of a man who can never be replaced. Fly free, Dr. Brad, and we wish you joy as you reunite with birds and animals awaiting you at the Rainbow Bridge. We know your spirit will soar, watching over us and the birds and animals that we love.
Tribute by: Julie Weiss Murad

The family has asked that memorials be directed to a local food bank, The Gabriel Foundation (Elizabeth, CO), to our Forever Norman Veterinary Medical Fund, or to a charity of choice.

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here.

He is survived by his daughter Rhonda and her family, sister Marcia and her family, and his cousin and fellow avian colleague Cheryl Greenacre, DVM. Memorials may be made to your local animal shelter or rescue organization.

Read more about Dr. Spink and other AAV founding members here. 

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here.

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here.  

Chris was a beacon of light and a passionate advocate for parrots. She taught us so much about parrot behavior, and on a personal level, she helped me through many struggles, bringing peace with every conversation. A Zoom memorial for Chris will be held in mid-November. In her memory, she has requested donations to two of her favorite charities: The Alex Foundation and the Tibetan Nuns Project. 

Tribute by: Jennifer Graham

AAV wishes our sincere condolences to all who knew her.

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here. 

Tribute by: Dr. Scott Echols

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here. 

A tribute to Professor Peernel Zwart.

He passed away January 26th, born in 1930.

Prof. Peer Zwart has been my mentor as veterinary student. Spending time at the special division for avian/exotics, of the department of pathology, I was totally blown away about the causes of death in birds that are kept in captivity. Since I was a young boy, I was interested in watching birds in nature and especially interested in watching the behavior of birds. Prof. Zwart initiated, as head of the department of “Exotic Pathology”, facultative lectures, in the seventies, for interested veterinary students in the field of avian medicine. Those lectures have become my inspiration and motivation to develop a special interest in avian medicine. Prof. Zwart recognized my interest and discussed with me that birds in captivity are completely ignored within the veterinary profession. He asked me the question; Do you want to make a difference? If so, you can become avian veterinarian. He guided me writing my thesis about “The veterinary aspects of owls in captivity”. I graduated in 1982 . Prof. Zwart arranged that this thesis became printed in a little booklet and was offered in 1983 to every veterinary practice in the Netherlands. He also arranged that this thesis became a chapter in “Krankheiten der Wildtiere”, a German book that he edited together with Prof Gabrich about diseases in animals in nature. When I graduated in 1982 my choice was obvious to become an avian veterinarian. He pushed me into avian medicine and supported me my whole career in the Netherlands. Without Prof. Zwart I would not have become the avian veterinarian that I am. Without his support I would not have survived in the Netherlands. Over the past decades he has supported veterinary students interested in exotics and guided colleagues all over the world working in exotics. We became friends and until he died at the age of 93 he was still active in publishing peer reviewed articles about exotics. During the ExoticsCon conference in Boston in 2023 he received a life long award for his contributions in the field of reptile medicine from ARAV. I was very happy and proud to be present when my mentor, role model and friend was honored at this international level. Afterwards I contacted Prof Zwart. He was very happy when UPS delivered the well-deserved award knowing that he was already diseased, knowing that he would die. To me, his article about the effects of feeding seed mixtures in 1986 was groundbreaking. He showed that feeding seed mixtures to birds is reason for common hyperkeratosis, caused by hypovitaminosis A. Reason for serious respiratory problems and early death. We lost one of the true pioneers in the field of avian medicine and exotic medicine. Every reason to honor the life and contributions of Prof. Peernel Zwart. He has made all the difference in the world and not just in my life and career.

Tribute by: Jan Hooimeijer

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here. 

View Complete Obituary at: https://everloved.com/life-of/dr-charles-greco/obituary/ 

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here. 

 AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here. 

Tribute by: Dr. Greg J. Harrison and the HBD team

 AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here. 

Due to her experience in our field as an exotics technician, Louisa became involved with various rescues and had a love for helping less fortunate birds. She frequently adopted special needs birds that required life long medications and special care. She took on those patients who others couldn't and not only provided them with the highest level of medical care, but she also showered them with love. She particularly did well with Amazon parrots and had a series of individuals that benefited from her personalized care. 

One of the needy birds that came into her care was a Port Lincoln Parrot with ataxia and she didn’t hesitate when it was decided she needed to travel a state away to see Dr. Scott Echols for an MRI, where the bird was kindly diagnosed with “mush” for a cerebellum. Despite the diagnosis, Louisa supported the bird and kept her thriving, even till this day.

When I found out that Louisa was suffering from cardiac problems I initially was not too worried. In my mind Louisa would live forever. She seemed very young and as I previously mentioned, vibrant. Plus, her father had lived into his 100s so I expected the same of Louisa. She had done everything her doctors told her to in order to manage her problem and followed their rules diligently. So, when I got the news that she had passed, I was shocked and in disbelief. Louisa was not meant to pass, I thought. 

However, in the time since she has left the earth, I have watched those who loved her come forward, showing the same care for her pets that she showed them as they all got divided up and went to the appropriate homes for each of them. All those who knew her were touched by her kind heart and lively personality. They were moved to help animals as she did. And at this point I realized my odd thought about Louisa living forever was not as odd a thought as it may seem at first glance. Because in reality she will live on forever due to her legacy of love for all animals in need.  

Tribute by Dr. Stephanie Lamb

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here.

 AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here.

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here.

Drury Robb Reavill finished her journey on earth October 30, 2021 after a 4 year battle with ovarian cancer. She was born Drury Robb Reavill on March 17, 1958.   She leaves behind her loving husband of 27 years John Robertson, DVM, Diplomate ACVS; parents Virginia and David Allen Reavill II; and a host of nieces and nephews.  Aunt Drury is sadly missed.

Animals were her life from hunting creepy crawly things with her brother as a child to birds, cats, dogs, tortoises, and fish.  She especially loved her Standard poodle “Pearl”. 

Drury played piano on her Steinway baby grand and loved classical music. She and her husband often went to the theater, the symphony, and she even dragged him to the opera a few times.  Shakespeare plays at her second home near beautiful Lake Tahoe were a yearly event. Drury played the computer game “World of Warcraft” and went to WOW conventions for 15 years with her guild mate’s brother and his children.  

Dr. Drury Reavill was a 1986 graduate of Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Drury wanted to become a bird Veterinarian from the age of 7.  In Veterinary school her professors told her there was no future in avian/exotic animal medicine and to forget it. Drury was and remains an outstanding asset to exotic and non-traditional animal medicine. She was proficient in the pathology of every zoo and pet exotic species, including exotic mammals, birds, reptiles and even fish.  She authored or co-authored 189 publications, posters and professional meeting proceedings, both in the US and internationally.

She co-authored two editions of Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds, and the third edition is currently in progress.  These publications helped pave the way for many novel treatments and procedures which benefit the lives of so many.  She inspired colleagues to push the limits for exotic animal medicine and surgery with her contagious enthusiasm and dedication to a rigorous scientific approach.  So many of her colleagues entered the world of scientific publication for the first time under her guidance and encouragement.  

She practiced at the Avian Medical Center of Sacramento and also provided clinical consultation and laboratory services to practitioners through the California Avian Laboratory as well as the California Veterinary Diagnostic Labs of West Sacramento and finally IDEXX labs. During this time, Drury became one of the first practitioners certified in avian practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in 1993. In 2013, she not only recertified in avian practice with ABVP, but also earned certification in reptile and amphibian practice.

Leaving clinical practice, Dr. Reavill completed a 4-year residency in anatomic pathology, including work at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and in zoo pathology becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2000. 

Dr. Reavill was the director/owner of Zoo/Exotic Pathology Service from 1998 to 2019, which received samples from private practitioners and zoos throughout the US, Europe, and China. Drury worked as a part-time veterinary pathology consultant for ZNLabs Veterinary Diagnostics in 2019, before retiring in 2020.

She also served as a lecturer at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and the Western Career College for veterinary technicians. 

Drury was instrumental in the founding of the American Association of Fish Veterinarians and served as their President in 2017.  She paved the way for AAFV's relationship with ExoticsCon and she is directly responsible for AAFV hosting our annual conference as part of ExoticsCon on two separate occasions. She was committed to advancing opportunities for AAFV to interact with Amphibian and Reptile Veterinarians, and Zoo, Aquarium, and Exotic Veterinarians.  Drury advanced our collaboration with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN).  She had been involved for years with VIN in presenting continuing education opportunities for veterinarians interested in zoo, aquarium, and exotic species, and she recognized that AAFV could work with VIN to present excellent presentations on fish veterinary medicine.  She was right, and that relationship continues today thanks to her.

Drury joined VIN is 1995.
Drury mostly kept to the aquatic medicine folder on VIN although she would give input elsewhere.  She posted nearly 3,000 messages helping colleagues in her time on VIN.  A little less than half of those in CE course interactions.  She intermittently spent less time on VIN as her lab became more successful and she grew more in demand as a speaker.

Her primary role was a VIN Consultant on the message boards so she's helped thousands of VIN members with avian and aquatic animal questions. She taught several CE courses on fish, birds, exotic small mammals. And you know she coordinated the AAFV Rounds on VIN. 

Dr. Reavill received numerous Awards in 2020, including the Oxbow Quest Award for Excellence & Innovation in the field of Exotic Mammal Health as well as the Reptile and Amphibian Veterinary Excellence Award (RAVE),  in conjunction with Zoo Med Laboratories which honors an individual of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). Drury also received an Inaugural Award for Outstanding Contributions to Exotic Animal Medicine, presented jointly by the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV), and ARAV at ExoticsCon Virtual in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of exotic animal medicine. This latter Award recognized Dr. Reavill’s role as a pillar in the exotic animal medicine community. In 2021, AEMV also announced the annual Drury R. Reavill Research Grant which will continue to help encourage research to develop cures benefiting exotic pets for many years to come.  

A complete list of her accomplishments can be viewed on her linkedin.com page.

In lieu of flowers, Drury and her family have requested that friends may make memorial donations in her honor to one of the following:

Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV)
https://www.aav.org/donations/

Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV) and the Drury Reavill Research Fund: https://aemv.org/drury-reavill-research-grant/

Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (AEMV)
https://arav.org/about/partner-with-us/

American Association of Fish Veterinarians (AAFV)
https://fishvets.org/donate/

AAV Member Spotlight: September 2017

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here. 

Marla Lichtenberger, DVM, Dipl ACVECC passed away surrounded by friends and family in her home in Wisconsin on April 4, 2019. Those of us who knew Marla were touched by her teaching and will miss her greatly. She inspired those of us in exotic animal medicine to improve our knowledge and skills in saving their lives. Marla brought her knowledge in emergency and critical care medicine in dogs and cats and developed it further for birds and exotic animals. We were introduced to her through her studies that she presented at AAV on fluid types for resuscitation on ducks in 2009 and the world of exotics has never been the same.

But most of us did not know that she had been interested in Exotics for a long time. At the age of 22, her parents put her on an airplane for her first time and sent her halfway around the world to study veterinary medicine at Punjab Agricultural University! As she would often say and appropriate here, “Can you believe it?” While there, she suffered with malaria and dysentery, but Marla’s tenacity earned her a veterinary degree in 1985. The animals that she saw as a student in vet school included water buffaloes, dogs and cats, elephants, camels and an odd mix of exotic animals.

From India, she then returned to do an internship at the AMC, with a residency in Milwaukee with Rebecca Kirby in emergency medicine and critical care. Marla wanted to do it all – from dogs and cats to exotics – so emergency medicine fit that interest. She went on to establish her own emergency hospital – Milwaukee Emergency Center for Animals where exotics were a big part of her practice.

Susan Orosz, PhD, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian), Dipl ECZM (Avian): Marla was a terrific lecturer that I had the great opportunity to work with at many conferences in the USA and in Europe. She got your attention and kept it from beginning to end. She was clear and made sure all could understand and most importantly use the concepts presented to make animals live. That was her goal. Our last lecture in Atlanta at ExoticsCon was filled to the brim and she said…. “Well, Orosz, we had them rolling in the aisles! Let’s do it again…… in London……” Doing that lecture won’t be the same without her. There will be no more deep stare into the eyes of each member of the audience and a quick turn…. With “Oh……MY…..GOD!” And then the answer with great clarity. We will miss her but her knowledge that she imparted will continue to make us better clinicians. Thank you, Marla!

Suzanne Topor, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian): I had the privilege of working with Marla as lab coordinator for AAV for several years. She always taught the emergency/critical care labs and if there are three words that I could choose to describe her they would be: educator, energetic, and generous. Marla was the consummate educator, always wanting the lab participants to really understand the procedures and jumping from table to table to help people out. Who can forget that wonderful gravelly voice as she lectured to us while walking up and down the center aisle waving her arms! Her energy was contagious and so very entertaining. She really knew her stuff and explained it eloquently, but was sure to also give us the dosages! She was so easy to work with in the labs, and like any good emergency clinician, could roll with it if things didn’t go as planned or needed to be rearranged. Walking into her lab room sometimes felt like entering the Starship Enterprise and working for the beloved Captain Kirk. You just wanted to be around her and do stuff for her and with her. I remember the year that our AAV Conference was in Milwaukee and Marla also served as my local contact. She had recently opened her new emergency practice there and didn’t hesitate to offer her help. She allowed me to ship supplies to her practice for the labs and borrow any needed last minute items, including a couple extra anesthetic machines. The staff there graciously helped me load the van to bring everything over to the hotel. Her commitment to our profession and our organization was extraordinary. Marla, you are a shining star and inspiration to all of us! We will miss you so very much!

AAV members are welcome to read and share additional tributes here.