Dr. Steeve Giguère, beloved father and husband, passed away at the age of 48 on May 27, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Myriam Bélanger; daughters, Kim and Kelly; mother, Anne-Marie Mercier; brother, Michaël; and many other family members.
Steeve was a large animal veterinarian and instructor of veterinary medicine for 26 years. He completed his veterinary medical training and internship at the University of Montreal (1992), medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania (1993-1995), and his PhD in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph (1999). He joined the faculty of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999 and was a beloved teacher, researcher, clinician, and colleague there for 10 years. In 2009, he was appointed Professor of Large Animal Medicine and Marguerite Thomas Hodgson Chair in Equine Studies at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and again quickly became a treasured member of the close-knit College. At UGA, Steeve continued to support and mentor countless veterinary and graduate students, interns, residents, and colleagues to excel in all aspects of their training and careers.
Steeve’s contribution to the veterinary profession and the world’s scientific knowledge-base was massive. He authored or co-authored over 175 peer-reviewed scientific publications, 35 book chapters, and 4 highly influential veterinary textbooks. He was, and will remain, a world-renowned researcher in equine infectious diseases and comparative immunology, particularly the development, treatment, and prevention of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals. His research endeavors and his dedication to sharing his knowledge were deservedly recognized; he received multiple teaching and research awards throughout his career, including the Carl Nordern-Pfizer Distinguished Teaching Award in 2006, the Intervet/Schering Plough World Equine Association Applied Equine Research Award in 2009, and the Zoetis Award for Research Excellence in 2017.
Steeve’s most important professional legacy, though, lies in the people whose lives he changed through his work and his friendship. During his career, he comforted countless people by saving the lives of their animals with his medical knowledge and clinical expertise. Steeve shaped the futures of thousands of veterinary students, interns, and residents by demonstrating and sharing his kind, compassionate, humble, and practical approach to medicine. He led by example to steer his graduate students and colleagues towards collegiality, research success, and excellence in teaching and clinical practice and was extraordinarily generous, fair, considerate, hard-working, and honest. Steeve simply made everyone and everything around him better, and he will be sorely and forever missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know and work with him.
A visitation will be held at Lord and Stephens, WEST, in Watkinsville, GA from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2018. A memorial service will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. A second funeral will be held at Saint-Jean Chrysostome, Québec, Canada on July 2nd at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the “UGA Foundation”. Please write “In memory of Steeve Giguere” in the check memo line to ensure funds are allocated appropriately. Checks should be mailed to: UGA, CVM, 501 DW Brooks, Athens, GA 30602.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Steeve Giguere, please visit our
Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
