Jessie Price

Jessie Isabelle Price, beloved friend and renowned scientist, lost her battle with Lewy Body Disease/Alzheimer's on November 12, 2015. Born on January 22, 1930, to Teresa [Baker] and Jesse Price, Jessie was raised in Montrose, Pennsylvania. An excellent student, Jessie was encouraged to study by her mother, and was mentored by several teachers who recognized her potential.

After high school, Jessie moved to Ithaca, New York, where she attended Cornell University and earned her Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees. Her PhD in Veterinary Microbiology (1959) documented her pioneering work on Pasteurella anatipestifer, the #1 killer of ducks in Long Island's commercial duck industry. The vaccine Jessie developed was instrumental in significantly reducing mortality; it bears the initials MLJP as a tribute to Jessie and her best friend and colleague Mae Lummis. Jessie's ongoing work at the Duck Research Laboratory on control of bacterial diseases in commercial ducklings included development of multiple life-saving vaccines.

In 1977, while pursuing employment at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, a chance encounter with Dr. Milton Friend resulted in Jessie's accepting a position as a research microbiologist at the National Wildlife Health Laboratory. Her significant contributions to the avian disease field continued, and included work on avian botulism in Utah and work on an avian cholera vaccine for use in free-ranging wild bird species. During field efficacy studies in Nebraska, the vaccine was used to protect giant Canada geese and ensure the success of a captive breeding program in the state. Her growing international reputation also resulted in collaboration with the UK based Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust on avian tuberculosis.

Throughout her life, Jessie's love for dogs - especially Pembroke Welsh Corgis - never waned. Playing and working with her beloved dogs gave her immense joy. When her first corgi, Carla, won a blue ribbon at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden for 'best American-bred female corgi', Jessie was overjoyed.

Jessie was also a wonderful photographer, and enjoyed developing and printing her own work, which reflected her interest in nature and her love of animals. She loved music and travel, and enjoyed visiting Great Britain, Germany, and Russia (to name a few), but she was always happy to come home.

Jessie gave a little bit of herself to everyone she met. She mentored other individuals starting in the field through several committees of the American Society for Microbiology, and served one year as the president of the Sigma Delta Epsilon Graduate Women in Science Organization. She taught college-level classes during her time on Long Island, and was always willing to share her knowledge with interns and externs throughout her career.

In accordance with Jessie's wishes, burial will be in the family plot in Quogue Cemetery on Long Island in early December. A celebration of life will be held at the Cress Center, 6021 University Avenue, Madison, WI, on December 1, 2015, at 11:30am.

Her friends, many part of an unofficial but very real family, will remember Jessie's unfailing kindness, her generosity, her quiet determination, and - most of all - her smile. A bright light has been extinguished.

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In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Jessie's name to any of the charities listed below.
University of Wisconsin Waisman Center Stem Cell Research Program http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/scrp.htm or 608.263.1656
National Audubon Society
http://www.audubon.org or 212.979.3000
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/gifts/ or 607.253.3745
Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
http://cals.cornell.edu/get-involved/alumni/make-a-gift or 607.255.1915
Lakeshore Pembroke Welsh Corgi Rescue, Inc.
http://lakeshorecorgirescue.org/ or
Lakeshore Pembroke Welsh Corgi Rescue, Inc.
c/o Jim Morrisey, Treasurer
1502 S 166th St
New Berlin, WI 53151
CorgiRescue@wi.rr.com