Memorial Jerry V. Debarthe

ASSOCIATION AFFAIRS MEMORIAL JERRY V. DeBARTHE Jerry V. DeBarthe, 58, a 28-year faculty member of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland at College Park, died suddenly April 24, 1997 of apparent cardiac arrest while attending the university-sponsored "Retention Summit '97" at Solomons, Maryland. DeBarthe was pronounced dead at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick. DeBarthe spent most of his career at University of Maryland as a teacher, advisor, mentor, and researcher in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences. On occasion, he assisted Cooperative Extension Service specialists with their outreach mission. A year ago, he was appointed Assistant Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. During his tenure at the University of Maryland, DeBarthe was a champion for students; he focused his attention on meeting and addressing their needs and concerns. His students found him to be an exceptional teacher who was well organized, thoughtful, and caring and who kept his classroom contemporary and interesting. DeBarthe served as faculty advisor to the Ag Student Council at Maryland for more than 12 years and was a guiding influence behind the annual Student Ag Day event, traditionally held on the fourth Saturday in April. This year the Ag Day event on April 26th was dedicated to his memory. In addition, DeBarthe spent several years in an advisory capacity for 4-H youth swine programs. He

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also was 4-H swine show superintendent at the Maryland State Fair from 1989 to 1993. In 1992, DeBarthe was named recipient of the first Dean Gordon M. Cairns Award for Distinguished Creative Work and Teaching in Agriculture. He has won at least three other awards for teaching excellence, including the Excellence in Instruction Award from the College of Agriculture Alumni Chapter in 1975. Born at Gillette, Wyoming, DeBarthe as a youth moved with his parents to Lamoni, Iowa where he earned an A.A. degree at Graceland College. He also holds B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Iowa State University. He spent 3 years as a member of the Animal Science Department faculty at Iowa State University before coming to Maryland in 1969. Professional memberships include American Dairy Science Association, American Society of Animal Science, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Sigma Xi. He also has held memberships in the American Camping Association and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. DeBarthe is survived by his wife, Martha, and two daughters, Marla Severn of Columbia, Maryland, and Michele DeBarthe of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Also surviving are his parents, Joe and Enid DeBarthe; brothers David, of Lamoni, Iowa and Paul, of Kansas City, Kansas; and his grandmother, Audrey Stubbart, Independence, Missouri. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Jerry DeBarthe Memorial Fund, 7310 Old Sandy Spring Road, Laurel, MD 20707.

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