Seth A. Koch

Koch Seth A., VMD, MMSC, ACVO March 11, 1940 - Dec. 18, 2025 Passed away peacefully in his sleep December 18, 2025. Born March 11, 1940 to the late Dorothy and Jerome Koch, Seth grew up in Brooklyn, NY and attended Erasmus Hall High School, Binghamton University and University of Pennsylvania Veterinary school. He was a pioneer in the field of veterinary ophthalmology and initially trained on human eyes under the direction of Dr. Harold Scheie (Wills Eye Hospital). For over 40 years, he was in private practice in and around the Washington, DC area, and served as a consultant to the National Zoo, working on animals large and small, including elephants, cuddle fish and Kimodo dragons before moving back to Philadelphia, PA in 2012. During his career, he perfected a surgical procedure for the treatment of "dry eye", and he traveled around the USA and internationally presenting his "parotid duct transformation" technique to his ophthalmology colleagues. He was a respected teacher, beloved mentor, loyal friend and revered clinician for over 55 years and a luminary in the veterinary ophthalmology field. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Bellman, son Andrew Koch and daughter Susan Cahn and her husband David, four grandchildren Jeffrey Cahn, Douglas Cahn, Spencer and Lauren Koch, step-sons Aric and Wyatt Bellman, wives Jennifer and Amy, and five step-granddaughters who knew and loved him as PopPop Emma, Ruby, Tess, Stella and Chloe Bellman. In lieu of flowers, and because of his love of musical theatre, the family suggests that memorials take the form of donations to MusiColab.org/seth and the Seth Koch Memorial Producer's Fund. A private Memorial Service will be held in Philadelphia to honor his memory.