From listmaster animalgenome.org Sun Dec 28 04:35:42 2025
Subject: Re: Passing of Dr. Dale Van Vleck
From: "Daniel Gianola" <gianolaansci.wisc.edu>
To: Members of AnGenMap <angenmapanimalgenome.org>
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2025 04:35:42 -0600
I wish to convey my sadness when I learned here in Uruguay of Dale Van
Vleck's passing away.
His teaching based on the green and yellow notebooks (Animal Science 420
and 421 at Cornell, if my recollection is correct) helped me to organize
dispersed ideas and thoughts around a central concept.
I just want to share an anecdote of my first visit to Cornell in 1972. I
had driven from Madison to New York Citry with some fellow grad students
(animal nutrition) at Wisconsin. Upon returning, we decided to 'stop by'
Ithaca to meet some of the big names at that time, e.g., Van Soest,
McDowell, Tom Reid, Foote and Van Vleck (dale "owned" the Journal of Dairy
Science in the late 60s).
I arrived at B22 Morrison Hall, and asked for Dr. Van Vleck. The secretary
said that he was in class ,but that I could meet Prof. Charles R. Henderson
instead (I had no idea who he was). CRH asked me what I was doing and,
after my account, he said that they were doing similarm things at Cornell
but very differently. He showed me Searle's Linear Models book, which had
just come out. I opened the first page and read "...if AGAthen G I a g-
inverse of A". I had not idea what this meant. I lef humbled but without
meeting the famous Van Vleck, my original intention.
It turned out, that I returned to Cornell in 1973 as student of the more
famous Henderson, but took the classes taughts by the more humble Van
Vleck, a fantastic teacher and great man. Dale always with a smile, but
sometimes enigmatic.
I have always admired Dale. Great teachher, great mentor and great human
being.
He will be missed.
Dan
________________________________
.From: Max Rothschild <mfrothsciastate.edu>
.Sent: Friday, December 26, 2025 6:55:52 PM
.To: Members of AnGenMap <angenmapanimalgenome.org>
.Subject: RE: Passing of Dr. Dale Van Vleck
I was quite saddened to hear of Dale's passing today. He was my co major
professor while I did my PhD at Cornell. He was always cheerful, positive
and supportive which was a rarity at Cornell. Dale was a superb scientist
who had great ideas and his research was clever and well designed and
always published. He played a great second baseman in our softball league
and never had an unkind word for anyone. I last saw him 2 years ago at his
90th birthday party and while not as agile physically his mind was sharp
and clear.
He will be missed.
May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.
Max Rothschild
Iowa State University
-------------------------------------------
.From: Jessica Petersen <jessica.petersenunl.edu>
.Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 1:00:06 PM
.To: Members of AnGenMap <angenmapanimalgenome.org>
.Subject: Passing of L Dale Van Vleck
A true legend in Animal Breeding, Dr. L. Dale Van Vleck, passed away
December 23, 2025, in Dallas, TX, after a brief illness.
Dr. Van Vleck was born on June 11, 1933. He grew up near Clearwater,
Nebraska on his family farm. Dale earned his bachelors (1954) and masters
(1955) degrees from the University of Nebraska prior to serving in the U.S.
Army Chemical Corps. He then continued his education at Cornell University,
where he earned his Ph.D. in 1960, working with Dr. Charles Henderson.
Continuing his career at Cornell, he first served as a research geneticist
before transitioning to a tenure-track position; he was promoted to full
professor in 1973. While a student, he married Delores (Dee) who would be
his wife of 55 years (d. 2013). Along with his career, he also built his
family, which included daughter Elizabeth, son John, and later
granddaughter, Audrey.
Dales first retirement was in 1988 when he transitioned to emeritus faculty
at Cornell and became a research geneticist with the USDA Meat Animal
Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. His position at US MARC included
an appointment as professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Although
his second official retirement was in 2007, he never truly retired. Until
COVID, he continued to go to the office daily and actively contributed to
research and student training. He persistently investigated new ideas
related to animal breeding and genetics, asked insightful questions at
student seminars, and always kept a stockpile of Little Debbie snack cakes
nearby.
Known for developing pioneering methods that improved and expedited animal
evaluation, his greatest legacy is through his training of young
scientists. Dale formally advised 52 Ph.D. and 39 M.S. students, and 77
research associates. Over half of these mentees came from one of 33
countries outside of the U.S. His memory was unmatched he could recall not
only details about scientific studies, but of each of his students
interests, the grade they earned in the courses he taught, and their career
paths. He continued correspondence with many long after their training was
complete.
Dr. Van Vlecks body of work was remarkable, comprising 14 books (including
The Green Book), 11 book chapters, 376 peer-reviewed publications, and 377
proceedings and abstracts. Although he was never one to brag, the list of
awards Dr. Van Vleck earned is long, including recognition as a Fellow of
the American Society of Animal Science (1999), Beef Improvement Federation
Pioneer Award (2002), the ASAS Morrison Award (2005), and induction into
the ARS Science Hall of Fame (2010).
Dale was generous, kind, brilliant, and humble. He will be missed.
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