When Anne Gale unexpectedly inherited a large sum of money from an elderly friend four years ago, she knew she wanted to pay it forward somehow. The retiree in Ewing, New Jersey, turned to one of her favorite people in the area, John Kazmierczak ’69, D.V.M. ’72. Known to his clients as “Dr. K”, he has been her veterinarian for a long series of cats and dogs for nearly two decades.

Asked if he needed any new equipment for his practice, Dr. Kazmierczak had a different suggestion. “He said he would prefer that I make a donation to the Cornell Veterinary College,” Gale recalled. “It was a lovely idea, and the process was straightforward and easy.” 

All about the animals

For the next five to ten years, the John K. Kazmierczak ’69, D.V.M. ’72 scholarship will annually support a second-year student from New Jersey at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) with $5,000. “Dr. K has told me he’s pleased with this, and in the end – and I agree – ‘it’s all about the animals,’” Gale said.

When Kazmierczak was growing up in the small, working-class steel town of Dunkirk in western New York, the idea that he would someday be chief of staff at his very own veterinary practice – the West Trenton Animal Hospital – might have seemed far-fetched. His mother had left school after the fifth grade, his father had completed only two additional years. “No one in my family had any understanding or appreciation of higher education,” Kazmierczak said. 

But inspired by instructors in high school, he decided to aim high. Veterinary medicine seemed like an ideal fit. “I always loved animals and people, and I could enjoy science and medicine and do some greater good for society,” he said.

Making it at Cornell was a challenge. “It was extremely hard,” Kazmierczak recalled. “But I was so appreciative and happy that they would give me a chance to do the things I wanted to do.” He persevered, working hard at his studies and at side jobs to earn money. Kazmierczak also received financial aid from the university. “They were always there to help me,” he said. “I feel so grateful. Veterinary college was kind of the defining experience in my life.”

Casting nets, planting seeds

Wanting to show his appreciation, Kazmierczak decided to not only contribute to CVM himself but to cast a wider net. “People love their animals, they’ll do anything for them,” he explained, “but often they don't know there's a huge open window for people to donate to universities and make a difference in the care of animals and society in general.”

In his practice, he plants the seed with clients gently in conversations. “Sometimes I’ll just say, ‘why don’t you take part of that money you’re going to pay me and donate it to the veterinary college?’”he said. “’And why don’t you think about maybe setting up something a little more long-term?’”

Besides Gale, a few other clients took his idea to fruition, including Ellen Simpson. Simpson, a retiree from working with the Trenton Board of Education, first met Kazmierczak in the early 1980s. She had just moved to Ewing with her husband and acquired a Doberman puppy. “Our dog absolutely adored Dr. K,” she recalled. “Most people are dragging their dog in to the vet, and mine was dragging me.” She has brought all pets to him ever since. “He’s just a very caring man,” she said. “But I also attribute it to the Cornell Veterinary College’s philosophy that reinforced those foundations. They understand that pets are part of a family.”

When it came time to write her will, Simpson wanted to do something to honor her animal-loving father. She turned to Kazmierczak for advice. Soon she was in touch with Alison Smith, director of development at CVM, who worked with Simpson to hammer out the details of a scholarship fund. “It was such an albatross off my shoulders,” Simpson said. “I knew I’d have a positive, long-lasting impact, and my dad would be very pleased.” Upon her passing, large parts of her estate will go to CVM to establish the Ellen Digiulie Simpson and John Digiulie Scholarship Fund, which will support D.V.M. students who have financial need.

Always striving

Kazmierczak is delighted. “I know what it’s like to be a student from an underprivileged background,” he said. Meanwhile, the 76-year-old’s own passion for veterinary medicine continues unabated. Far from retiring, he continues to take courses to keep his surgical skills sharp and stays abreast of the newest research in the field. “You’ve got to continuously strive to do better, you’ve got to learn,” he said. “Cornell instilled that in me.”

Kazmierczak hopes other alumni regard their experiences at the Cornell Veterinary College with the same sense of gratitude. “I wish that people look back and are generous in their efforts to support the Veterinary College, because none of us would be where we are in life without it,” he said.

Written by Olivia Hall