JOHN L. HYDE DVM Ithaca-John ("Jack") L. Hyde, DVM, 85, died on Monday, April 19, 2010. Dr. Hyde is survived by his son, John Hyde Campbell of Livermore, CA and two granddaughters, Stephanie Campbell-Painter of Sacramento, CA and Erica Campbell of La Jolla, CA, and one great-granddaughter.
Dr. Hyde was born as "Jack Cunningham" on May 17, 1924 in Greensboro, NC; his birth parents were Jack and Rita Cunningham. The family suffered severe set-backs during the great depression and at age 9 Jack was left at a local orphanage. He was adopted at age 11 by Rev. Albert and Erva Hyde during which time his name was changed to what it is today. The Hyde's eventually came to Trumansburg where Jack attended Trumansburg Central School for several years. Beginning his sophomore year, he received a basketball scholarship and attended New Hampshire Preparatory School.
Jack joined the Navy in 1942 and served as a Pharmacist's mate during WWII caring for wounded and sick soldiers until his discharge in 1945. He attended Cornell University under the GI Bill and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1949, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1954, and Master of Science in 1959.
After receiving his D.V.M., Dr. Hyde worked at a small animal clinic in New Jersey. He later joined the veterinary school faculty at the University of Pennsylvania where he taught and did research for several years.
In 1961, Dr. Hyde joined the scientific staff at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center located off the North Fork of Long Island. He eventually rose to be Assistant Director and for twelve years served as the Chief Biological Safety Officer. His research in biological safety cemented his reputation as an expert in containment of both foreign and domestic animal diseases, a skill for which he was internationally recognized.
Dr. Hyde moved to the US Department of Agriculture Research Center in Washington D.C. in 1975 where he directed programs on foreign animal disease containment in Europe, Africa, China and Korea. He retired from the USDA in 1985 but remained active as an expert in animal disease containment until his death. During his "retirement" he worked extensively in Korea. Dr. Hyde remained active in veterinary medicine as a member of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society and the Southern Tier Veterinary Medical Association for which, at one point, he served as president.
Although a dedicated professional, Jack loved good food, lively conversation, and a "couple of snorts" with his close friends. When telling his many yarns he always had a twinkle in his deep blue eyes and a devilish grin. He loved practical jokes, an art form developed to near perfection by many of his generation and always done in good fun. Perhaps his greatest practical joke was the April 1, 1994 (April fool's day) hoax dedication ceremony of the Ithaca Airport at which Ross Perot was to appear as guest speaker. The hoax was chronicled in the Ithaca Journal although the ring-leader has remained anonymous until this disclosure.
Jack was also an avid outdoorsman during his younger years and hunted and fished many of the local areas. He passed his love of the outdoors and fly-fishing onto his son.
Dr. Hyde had a deep and abiding faith that helped him through many difficult periods in his long struggle with heart disease. He was baptized Catholic by his Irish parents, then Baptist by the orphanage and finally Methodist by his adoptive parents. In his words: "I think I'm fairly well covered".
In respect of Dr. Hyde's wishes, there will not be a funeral. However, true to his Irish roots, he requested "A good ole Irish celebration". The celebration will be held on the afternoon of Friday, June 11th; please contact the Perkins Funeral Home in Dryden at 607-844-8161 for further information. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any gifts in his memory be sent to the SPCA at 1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 or Hospicare, Tompkins County, 172 East King Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com
Published in Ithaca Journal from Apr. 20 to Apr. 24, 2010
David C. Georgia (1965)
JOHN L. HYDE DVM Ithaca-John ("Jack") L. Hyde, DVM, 85, died on Monday, April 19, 2010. Dr. Hyde is survived by his son, John Hyde Campbell of Livermore, CA and two granddaughters, Stephanie Campbell-Painter of Sacramento, CA and Erica Campbell of La Jolla, CA, and one great-granddaughter.
Dr. Hyde was born as "Jack Cunningham" on May 17, 1924 in Greensboro, NC; his birth parents were Jack and Rita Cunningham. The family suffered severe set-backs during the great depression and at age 9 Jack was left at a local orphanage. He was adopted at age 11 by Rev. Albert and Erva Hyde during which time his name was changed to what it is today. The Hyde's eventually came to Trumansburg where Jack attended Trumansburg Central School for several years. Beginning his sophomore year, he received a basketball scholarship and attended New Hampshire Preparatory School.
Jack joined the Navy in 1942 and served as a Pharmacist's mate during WWII caring for wounded and sick soldiers until his discharge in 1945. He attended Cornell University under the GI Bill and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1949, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1954, and Master of Science in 1959.
After receiving his D.V.M., Dr. Hyde worked at a small animal clinic in New Jersey. He later joined the veterinary school faculty at the University of Pennsylvania where he taught and did research for several years.
In 1961, Dr. Hyde joined the scientific staff at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center located off the North Fork of Long Island. He eventually rose to be Assistant Director and for twelve years served as the Chief Biological Safety Officer. His research in biological safety cemented his reputation as an expert in containment of both foreign and domestic animal diseases, a skill for which he was internationally recognized.
Dr. Hyde moved to the US Department of Agriculture Research Center in Washington D.C. in 1975 where he directed programs on foreign animal disease containment in Europe, Africa, China and Korea. He retired from the USDA in 1985 but remained active as an expert in animal disease containment until his death. During his "retirement" he worked extensively in Korea. Dr. Hyde remained active in veterinary medicine as a member of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society and the Southern Tier Veterinary Medical Association for which, at one point, he served as president.
Although a dedicated professional, Jack loved good food, lively conversation, and a "couple of snorts" with his close friends. When telling his many yarns he always had a twinkle in his deep blue eyes and a devilish grin. He loved practical jokes, an art form developed to near perfection by many of his generation and always done in good fun. Perhaps his greatest practical joke was the April 1, 1994 (April fool's day) hoax dedication ceremony of the Ithaca Airport at which Ross Perot was to appear as guest speaker. The hoax was chronicled in the Ithaca Journal although the ring-leader has remained anonymous until this disclosure.
Jack was also an avid outdoorsman during his younger years and hunted and fished many of the local areas. He passed his love of the outdoors and fly-fishing onto his son.
Dr. Hyde had a deep and abiding faith that helped him through many difficult periods in his long struggle with heart disease. He was baptized Catholic by his Irish parents, then Baptist by the orphanage and finally Methodist by his adoptive parents. In his words: "I think I'm fairly well covered".
In respect of Dr. Hyde's wishes, there will not be a funeral. However, true to his Irish roots, he requested "A good ole Irish celebration". The celebration will be held on the afternoon of Friday, June 11th; please contact the Perkins Funeral Home in Dryden at 607-844-8161 for further information. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any gifts in his memory be sent to the SPCA at 1640 Hanshaw Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 or Hospicare, Tompkins County, 172 East King Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com
Published in Ithaca Journal from Apr. 20 to Apr. 24, 2010