ITHACA, NEW YORK: George Wells Abbott, DVM, 87, died on Thursday, September 17, 2009.
He was born in Philadelphia, PA on May 27, 1922 the son of the late George L. Abbott and Annie Laurie (Wells) Abbott.
Dr. Abbott is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Dorothy (Donnelly) Abbott of Ithaca, New York. Father of Karen L. Abbott of Manassas, VA; George W. Abbott, Jr. of Geneva, NY; Dwight L. Abbott of Duxbury; Robin M. A. Burwick of Millbury and Kimberly T. Brown of Wayland. Grandfather of Jeffrey W. Burwick; Kaitlin K. Burwick; Christopher L. Abbott; Courtney W. Abbott; Michaela E. Abbott; Alyssa P. Brown; Lindsay L. Brown; Anna-Jen Abbott and Amelia Abbott. Brother of Robert M. Abbott of Charlotte, NC and Dr, Richard J. Abbott of Moultonborough, NH. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Dr, Abbott has been a resident of Ithaca, New York for the past 13 years and previously resided in Grafton and Little Compton, R.I. for many years. He graduated Worcester Academy in 1941 and received his BA degree from the College of Arts and Sciences from Cornell University and his D.V.M. degree from Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr Abbott was a member of the Board of Trustees at Worcester Academy and the Board of Directors of the Worcester Animal Rescue League. He was also a distinguished former President of the American Animal Hospital, President of the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association, the Director of Hospital Management for Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston, the Nantucket Animal Hospital in Nantucket and the Rowley Memorial Hospital in Springfield. He served on the Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Dr. Abbott was a noted state, national and international lecturer on Surgical and Practice Management. He was an adjunct professor of Clinical Medicine at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr Abbott was the owner of the Grafton Animal Hospital in Grafton and Co-Owner of the Abbott Animal Hospital in Worcester with his brother Dr. Richard Abbott. He was also associated with Pawtucket Animal Clinic in Pawtucket, RI and the Woodbridge Animal Hospital in Woodbridge, VA. Dr. Abbott was a member of the Worcester Club and the Laurel Brook Club of Uxbridge.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be sent to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland (www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com).