You’re never too old to teach, or at least that’s what we learned from Dale, a resident from The Commons on Marice, a senior living community in Eagan, MN. Dale was, at times, a professor, department head, and dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine for the University of Minnesota. As Dale put it, “I was department head for a long, long time, and I rose to be a dean for a while. Large animal medicine, that was my specialty.”

Although retired, Dale did not put his working days behind him. In fact, between the years 2012–2018, Dale spent every Wednesday going to the University of Minnesota to work on the piece he titled, The History of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine.

From Veterinarian to Historian

With many years of experience at the school, Dale not only studied its history, he’d lived it. Dale invested numerous hours at home meticulously documenting the historical narratives of each department within the college. Supported by previous colleagues, he gathered and organized pivotal dates and career highlights to stitch together his work.  

Benefits of Working From Home

When Dale wasn’t working on his dissertation, he enjoyed relaxing at his home within The Commons on Marice. He was never without something fun to do. His calendar was regularly filled with activities. He once shared, “I try to take in as many things as I can." Dale would spend his free time attending musicals or going to happy hours, truly trying to get the most out of every moment.

Dale passed away at the age of 94, having nearly completed his project. It was at this point that volunteers of the Minnesota Veterinary History Museum took his creation to the finish line, organizing the many versions into a single document for public review. Now digitally published, Dale’s piece lives on and serves as a reminder for us all to continue learning and in Dale’s words, “take in” as much as we can from others.