Dr. Ken Seeber, of Glenfield, N.Y., a longtime veterinarian in the harness racing industry who also operated a Grand Circuit stable in the late 1980s-early 1990s, passed away
on August 23, 2010 at the age of 66.
Born Oct. 14, 1943, in Oneonta, the son of Kenneth and Evelyn Seeber, he was raised in Glens Falls, N.Y., and graduated from Glens Falls High School in June of 1961.
Dr. Seeber enrolled in the College of Agriculture at Cornell University in September 1962. He graduated in the class of 1965 from Cornell University and NYS Veterinary College, Cornell University, on June of 1968, when he was also president of the Veterinary Fraternity (OTS).
He married to Susan Dance on Dec. 28, 1973, in Lighthouse Point, Fla.
It has been often said that “a dog is a man’s best friend” and this was proven by his true companion, his yellow lab, Moose.
Surviving are four children, a daughter, Rachel E. Seeber, Queensbury, N.Y., and her husband, Kevin W. Conine; a daughter, Rebecca L. Damuth, 33, of Glenfield, and her husband, Ben Damuth; his son and best friend, Kenneth H. Seeber, 30, of Malta, N.Y., and a son, Christopher S. Seeber, 29, of Manhattan; three grandchildren, Dylan A. Seeber, 13, Queensbury, Alexis L. Becnel, 13, Thiboudaux, La., and Paige M. Damuth, Glenfield; a sister, Cynthia S. Fisher, and her husband, Edward B. Fisher, Snyder, N.Y., and her three children, Mark, Scott and John Fisher, and their families.
He was an avid lover of the Adirondacks and often could be found reminding those of us visiting that “If you are lucky enough to live in the Adirondacks, your’re lucky enough.” Dr. Seeber started a family business, Adirondack Cattle Co. in 2006, raising Wagyu Cattle and continued to practice as an Equine Veterinarian, specializing in the treatment of lameness.
Dr. Seeber traveled extensively on the Eastern seaboard with periodic trips to California.
He was internationally recognized as a leading veterinarian in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and throughout Europe. One of his many accomplishments includes writing a chapter in “The Care and Training of the Trotter and Pacer.” Not only did he look after many of the most acclaimed horses in the harness industry, he went onto train and produce two of harness racing’s most famous horses, Jake and Elwood and In The Pocket.
Dr. Seeber provided veterinary care for Nihilator, the largest money-earning pacer ever, and horse of the year in 1985. In addition, Dr. Seeber was the veterinarian for the W.R. Haughton Stable and some of his famous patients also included Falcon Almahurst, TV Yankee and Mack Lobell. In 1991, Dr. Seeber won the prestigious William Haughton Award and was one of the nation’s leading trainers of harness horses. Over the course of his career, racehorses he has trained have earned in excess of 13 million dollars. As quoted in the Harness Eye magazine in December of 1991, “Few horsemen have the expertise and common sense of Dr. Seeber, throughout much of his career he has seemed to have a sixth sense about horses.” He was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) for 42 years and was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for 43 years.
Dr. Seeber was also a member of The American Wagyu Association, Adirondack Museum, the ELKS of Lowville, New York and various other organizations.
His family would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Miller, Dr. Stillerman, Dr. Virkler, Dr. Stillman and his nephew, Dr. Scott Fisher; as well as all the wonderful support and care from all the nurses and hospital staff at Lewis County General Hospital, The Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center and Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
The family also wishes to thank all of Dr. Seeber’s friends for their years of friendship and support to his family.
There will be no calling hours and a private memorial service will take place at a later date at the family’s convenience.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in Dr. Seeber’s memory and honor to the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake, New York, to honor his deep commitment and love of the Adirondacks, please visit www.adirondackmuseum.org or call (518) 352-73111.
Dr. Seeber fully believed that one of the most important ways to cure cancer is to provide financial support directly to the cancer researchers. To make a donation to Life Lover Foundation, where 100 percent of any donations made will go directly to cancer research. Please visit www.lifeloverfoundation.org or call (561) 706-3239 to make a donation in Dr. Seeber’s memory and honor. Many thanks to Sharon Lee Parker, author of “Look Out Cancer, Here I Come,” for her incredible support and encouragement since Dr. Seeber’s diagnosis in early August.
Memories may be shared with Dr. Seeber’s family at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Ken Seeber.