Francis L. Welcome passed away peacefully on January 9, 2020 in Ithaca, NY after a brief illness.

Frank was born in Lowell, MA on April 6, 1948 to Anne and Leonard Welcome. The oldest of seven siblings, Frank was raised exploring the Tyngsboro State Forest, which nurtured his love of animals, nature, and farming.

In 1967 Frank graduated with an AS from The Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts before moving on to Michigan State University where he completed a Bachelor of Science with Honors in 1970 and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with High Honors in 1971.

It was at Stockbridge where he would meet his wife Maxine, who he would marry in 1969. In 1971 they moved to central New York where they would raise their three sons and where Frank would become a partner at Cherry Valley Veterinary Associates.

After 25 years in private practice Frank transitioned to the second phase of his career, joining Quality Milk Production Services at Cornell University as a Senior Extension Veterinarian in January 2000. While at QMPS, Frank earned his MBA in Agriculture at the University of Guelph. He traveled extensively giving lectures across the United States, Europe, Latin America, Turkey, and China while visiting many farms to advise local dairy farmers on milking routines, equipment, and facility management.

Author and co-author of dozens of research papers, Frank was a Diplomat to the American College of Theriogenology and an active member of many professional societies including the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the National Mastitis Council, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and several state and regional associations.

Frank had a wealth of knowledge and experience from his many years in the dairy industry, which he shared with colleagues and students as a friend and mentor. Although he formally retired in 2018 from Cornell, Frank remained with QMPS on a part time basis. His kind, humble, manner; wonderful sense of humor; and extraordinary memory led many to seek his advice. Frank made time for everyone and loved more than anything to talk about cows.

Frank was a man of many talents and interests. He was an avid gardener and woodworker and a voracious reader of history, politics, and science fiction.

He is survived by his devoted wife Maxine; his sons Daniel, Jeremy (Rowan), and Nicholas; and beloved grandchildren Ezra and Kali.

A Celebration of Frank's Life will be held on March 20th in Ithaca.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memoriam can be sent on his behalf to Heifer International at: https://www.heifer.org

Published in Ithaca Journal from Jan. 11 to Jan. 13, 2020.