Harry Madissoo

• Sünd: Saaga EAA.3159.1.445:92?310,454,1813,273,0
• PR 1891-1936 Paide: Saaga EAA.3159.1.451:82?221,1480,743,101,0
• http://isik.tlulib.ee/index.php?id=1994

Obituary:

• https://www.scheppfamily.com/memorials/harry-madissoo/4422056
• https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/harry-madissoo-obituary?pid=...
• Harry Madissoo DVM, 96, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2020 at home surrounded by family after a short illness.
• Harry was born July 4, 1924 in Paide in his beloved homeland, Estonia. He grew up there until the devastation of WWII forced many Estonians to flee, and he spent time in a prisoner of war camp in Belgium and subsequently a United Nations displaced persons camp in Oldenburg, Germany in 1946. From there he went on to study at Baltic University from 1946-1948 and continued his education and started Veterinary School in Hanover, Germany. He took a break in his studies to come to America to study renal physiology as a Research Assistant under Dr. R. F. Pitts at Cornell Medical Center in New York City, who he credited as a lifelong mentor. He continued his Veterinary studies at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, with continued research at Cornell Medical Center, and eventually received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Veterinary College of Hanover, Germany in 1958. He remained in Hanover and received an advanced degree in clinical veterinary pharmacology in 1960. From there he took a position at Squibb Pharmaceuticals as Senior Research Scientist in New Brunswick, NJ from 1960-1964. In 1964 he married his wife, Leida and took a honeymoon around the world, including stops in Europe, Australia, and even to watch the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He returned to take a position as Director of Toxicology at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Syracuse, New York from 1965-1990. There he was involved in toxicologic testing of newly developed antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, for which he was very proud of their work. He transferred to their offices in New Brunswick, NJ as Senior Research Advisor for drug safety before retiring and moving back permanently to Syracuse. He had great love in reading books which he did almost every day in three languages (English, Estonian, and German) and did so throughout his life with favorites being autobiographies and particularly European WWII History for which he had a wealth of knowledge. Rarely did a few weeks go by without a stop at the bookstore or more recently a box of books at the door. He most enjoyed family and family gatherings. He married Leida Rossmann in 1964 and raised a family in Syracuse until her passing in 1988 and remarried Aili Daniels in 1992. He would light up when the grandchildren, who he affectionately called “The Crew”, would enter the room and loved to share stories of his life. He also had an interest in travel that eventually brought him to 71 countries, with many of them several times, particularly Australia and Europe, to visit friends and family. He and Aili spent over 20 years wintering in Honolulu, Hawaii and travelling the world, which he enjoyed immensely after retirement. He is predeceased by first wife, Leida and daughter, Tiina. He is survived by wife, Aili; son, Dr. Andres (Jennifer) Madissoo; stepdaughter, Kristina (Patrick) Dougherty; son-in-law, Tonu; grandchildren, Toomas, Triina, Annika, Aleksander, Anders, Hannah, Patrick, Helena; sister, Maie (Tallinn, Estonia); and many extended family members throughout the world.

Private services for the family will be held at Schepp Family Funeral Home in Manlius, NY.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Dr. James Longo, who Harry credited with extending his life, and the amazing Aides at Peace at Home that allowed him to stay at home his final days, for their care and compassion.

His was a life truly lived to its fullest with adventure and perseverance.