Bruce Wixson Calnek

Bruce Wixson Calnek died on July 21, 2026 at the age of 94. 

He was born in Manchester, NY to the late Lucille and Otto Calnek and was raised in Shortsville and Clifton Springs, NY. 

He graduated from Ithaca High School in 1949 and enrolled at Cornell where he completed a 2-year pre-veterinary course in the College of Agriculture followed by 5 years in the College of Veterinary Medicine where he received his DVM degree in 1955 and a Master of Science degree in 1956. While a student, he took a part-time job at the Tompkins County Hospital where he met a young dietitian, Mary Jeanne Trudeau. They married on July 5th, 1954 – thus beginning a 72-year loving relationship. 

From 1957 to 1961 he was an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he studied a disease of chickens that is the equivalent poliomyelitis in humans. He developed a highly successful vaccine that is still in use world-wide. He returned to Cornell’s Veterinary College in 1961 as an Associate Professor with a major responsibility for research in poultry diseases. His contributions often focused on researching a form of leukosis called Marek’s disease, which at the time was devastating losses in chicken flocks. Research he led with contributions from colleagues and graduate students resulted in patents for successful vaccines and proved for the first time in any species, that a herpesvirus could cause cancer. He received continuous funding from the National Cancer Institute and he published over 150 papers and authored a book and the history of avian pathology at Cornell. Bruce was promoted to Full Professor in 1968. From 1976 until his full retirement in 1995, he served as Chair of the Department of Avian and Aquatic Medicine. In addition, he was chair of the College’s Planning Committee which oversaw the planning for a 90+ million-dollar expansion of the vet school’s facilities. He received many national and international honors and awards and gave numerous lectures in many parts of the world. One example - the University of Budapest awarded him the Josef Marek Commemorative Medal for Research Achievements and he was an inaugural inductee into both national and international Halls of Honor in the field of avian medicine. 

In addition to his professional career, Dr. Calnek enjoyed a serious hobby in woodworking with a special interest in sharker style furniture. Clock making was a specialty and many of his works can found in many homes throughout the world. 

He is survived by Mary Jeanne Calnek, his wife of 72 years and his 2 sons David and Douglas (Lynn), two sisters, Beatrice and Marjorie (Randy), sister-in-law Sue, six grandchildren – Aaron (Ashley), Samantha (Joshua), Jennifer (Kolin), Charlotte, Rachel and Tucker, and 4 great-grandchildren – Harper, Dylan, Vivian and Jett. 

At his request, there will be no services, but his family will coordinate a Celebration of Life at some point in the future. Donations in his name can be made to the Class of ’55 Scholarship at the Veterinary College at Cornell University or to a charity of your choice.