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Robert Lopez Obituary
Dr. Lopez was married to his loving wife Margorie in 1945 and has 14 children and 25 grandchildren.
He attended Dewitt Clinton High School, City College of New York, Cornell University of Agriculture, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and The State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
Dr. Lopez owned and operated the Westport, Lake Placid and Saranac Lake Veterinary Hospitals. He was the president of the New York State Veterinary Medical Association in 1991, a director of the New York State Conservation Council, volunteered veterinary service in Dominican Republic for the "Heifer International" program and spearheaded the horse protection transportation project legislation.
Dr. Lopez also was Captain in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Korea from 1952 to 1954, 5th Air Force Chief of Veterinary Services, and was awarded Paratrooper Wings, the Bronze Star and the Air Medal for his military service in Korea.
Dr. Lopez was the president and consulting veterinarian for the North Country SPCA, a venture he and wife Marge founded in 1967 and operated until 1989. He also was active with the Adirondack Council Boy Scouts of America, The Westport Fish and Game Club, Essex County Fish and Game League, St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Lake Placid Kiwanis Club, Lake Placid Road Runners Club, Lake Placid Sports Council and Westport Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey to the New York States Winter Sports Education Trust in 1979, and was one of the 52 torch bearers in the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics representing Lake Placid.
Dr. Lopez ran over 65 marathons, including the 50 mile JFK Maryland marathon and organized countless races, including the annual Westport 24 hour marathon. In addition, he was a "Polar Bear", one of the few who dare to take a dip in the lake through the ice each winter. He has several well known protégés in the community whom he encouraged to take up his beloved sport of running.
Dr. Lopez is predeceased by his parents, Florence and Luis Lopez; and one brother, Henry Lopez.
His children, James Lopez of Burlington, Vt., Kristin Lopez (deceased), Maureen Fernandez of Lake Tahoe, Calif., Jan Fellows of Salem, Mass., Stephen Lopez of Pleasantville, N.Y., Thomas Lopez of Wellsville, N.Y., Martha Chubb of Santa Cruz, Calif., Dan Lopez of Cooperstown, N.Y., Tresa Lopez of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Susan Allott of Elizabethtown, N.Y., Anthony Lopez of Buffalo, N.Y., Lori Myers of Burlington, Vt., Matthew Lopez of Chicago, Ill., and Kate Lopez of Burlington, Vt.
Services will be held at St. Philip Neri Church in Westport on Thursday, March 15, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be forwarded to High Peaks Hospice and Elizabethtown Community Hospital.
W.M. Marvins Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown is in charge of arrangements.
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Ed Jepson
March 23, 2007
Dear Friends,
Bob was a senior member of the 1980 torch team and from Lake Placid. His kindness to me will be long remembered. He made the experience a much friendlier one and tied us all closer to the region and the event. Thank you Bob and the people who supported him.
Tom and Jane Spierto
March 17, 2007
Dear Marge and family,
Jane and I are sorry to hear about Bob. He was a great sportsman, family man, and vet. He will be missed in the North Country.
You have our greatest sympathy.
Gail Anderson
March 15, 2007
Dr. Lopez was so supportive of the Nursing Home. Finding Jessie, the dog, for us, improved the quality of life for many residents for years. His family is in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
The Residents and Staff of Horace Nye Home
Denise (Elmore) McMahon
March 14, 2007
Dearest Mrs. Lopez and Family,
I have so many fond memories of Dr Lopez and I will indeed cherish them all. I will never forget the time when I was a very young and he asked me to keep an eye on Grandma Lopez when she walked to get her mail and groceries. I always thought it was a such a big responsibility that I took very seriously at the time as I knew how much it meant to him and I could not ever let him down. It did not matter how busy he was he always took the time to ask me how college was when I was home and ask if I was coming up to visit before I left back for school. He was indeed a role model for kindness and generosity to say the least the importance of family and caring. God Bless.
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Dick Volckmann
March 14, 2007
Dear Lopez Family, It's been many years since I've lived in Westport and indeed since I've seen Bob, but his competence and affability are still strong in my mind. I remember well, (I believe it was 1955) the "Ice-Fish" Carnival out on the ice in front of the Westport Marina. Bob did his Polar Bear imitation, diving into a large hole that had been cut in the ice. The crowd quickly gathered around the hole to watch, thereby causing the ice to bend down toward the hole. Water gushed up out of the hole and suddenly everyone was knee-deep in 32 degree water. I've always wondered if this was Bob's way of introducing the public to the wonders of winter swimming!
Safe journey Bob. You will be missed.
Grace Knox
March 14, 2007
Dear Mrs. Lopez and family,
I was very saddened to hear the news about Doctor Lopez. He was such an incredible man who served as a role model to so many with his love of animals, skill and knowledge as a vet, love of sports and life. My heart goes out to you all as you face this loss.
Claire Barnett
March 13, 2007
Dear Marge and family, with profound sympathies for your loss and with great admiration for the spirit in which Bob lived his life, Claire Barnett, Saratoga Springs/Westport
Harriet Kline
March 13, 2007
Our hearts go out to the Lopez family, as well as to friends and neighbors, who mourn the death of this beloved man, Dr. Robert Lopez. May his legacy prevail through the lives of his children and through the wonderful stories of all who were inspired by his love of life. May he rest in peace.
The Kline Family, Keene Valley
Timothy Barnett
March 13, 2007
Dear Lopez family, in one activity or another I have known Bob almost all my life. For many years he was the man to whom we always took our sick animals and as far as I was concerned one of the few
human beings who could give a cat a pill. He had the fastest hands in the East. Later Bob got me hooked on running and for years we spent our Sunday mornings running to Elizabethtown and back. And then for some unknown reason we started running around the Westport racetrack for 24 hours. None of this made a great deal of sense to my wife my friends or our kids. For me it was a wonderful release and a great way to spend a morning listening to Bob tell stories about his great marathons. Not once did he mention his war record. I owe Bob great deal and Claire and I will miss him
MARY JANE HULBERT
March 13, 2007
I lived in E-town. Dr. lopez took care of my pet rabbit when it got hit by a car.now that I am an adult I'can't believe my father actually put me, and my rabbit in the car and drove me there to have it put to sleep. Dr Lopez had so much empathy when he looked at my face.I was only 12,I remember it to this day.My sympathy to all of the family. I lost my dad in October at the age of 85.
Laura (Kratz) Mannix
March 13, 2007
Dear Mommy Marge and Family,
I am so sad to hear about our "Doctor Bob". He, and your whole family, are so very dear to me. He was an amazing inspiration to me for running, for living life to fullest and having fun and I will never forget him because of it. I wish you all strength and love to celebrate his wonderful life. I will keep all of you in my prayers.
Edwin Knox
March 13, 2007
To Marge and the family,
No words can express the sadness I feel to hear of the loss of Bob. He was my surrogate father. I will always hold the deepest respect and love for him and to you all.
Craig Lonergan
March 13, 2007
Dr. Lopez was one of the first area runners and was an inspiration to me and this has carried over to my sons Mike and Pat who are both high school runners in Cross Country and Track. His spirit will live on.
Dawn Tucker-Hutchins
March 13, 2007
The Doctor was a hero as I was growing up since he saved my kitty "Teddy" through all of my cat's misadventures. He was always available and would do anything at anytime to help his furry and not so furry friends. Thank you Doc for making this little girl grow up loving and respecting animals. I am sure you are now surrounded by all your creatures big and small.
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7521 Court Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932
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