Dr. Fredric Winthrop Scott

Ithaca, NY – Dr. Fredric Winthrop Scott, 89, passed away April 24, 2025, peacefully at his home in Brooktondale, NY.

Born in Greenfield, MA Fred was the son of Clifton and Mildred Scott and raised on their family dairy farm in Ashfield, MA. Fred was a graduate of Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, MA, and received a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University. He began his veterinary career as a private practitioner in Vermont before returning to Ithaca to earn his PhD from Cornell.

Fred had a remarkable 30-year career at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, where he taught courses in infectious diseases and conducted research on feline viral diseases and vaccine development and authored or co-authored some 200 scientific publications. Fred was the founding Director of the Cornell Feline Health Center for 22 years, and was the recipient of many honors and awards, among them having the annual Feline Symposium of the Cornell Feline Health Center named in his honor.

Fred had many passions, greatest among them his family and faith. He spent countless hours in support of his son’s activities throughout the years including camping trips and pre-dawn hunting or fishing outings, hockey practices, or canoe trips. Fred found special joy supporting his local grandchildren as they grew with their own families as he shared his time and talents for projects, many including lumber he sawed from his mill. Fred was a member of the Bethel Grove Bible Church community for over 50 years which resulted in some of his dearest friendships, and he served as Deacon or Elder for many of those years. Fred had a keen interest in genealogy and spent years researching and documenting his family’s heritage, eventually publishing a 2-volume family history dedicated to his parents. Sports was also a life-long passion of Fred’s, from playing baseball in high school and college and competitive 3-on-3 basketball into his 70s and golf well into his 80s, attending any event his kids or grandkids might be involved in, or following his beloved Red Sox or Cornell hockey.

Fred is survived by his wife Lois with whom he shared life’s blessings for 67 years, three sons Duane (Andrea) of Brooktondale, NY, John (Ellen) of Cape Cod, MA, and Raymond (Cheryl) of Groton, NY, 11 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers Roger and Ed, and sister Gladys.

Calling hours will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday May 9, 2025, at Bethel Grove Bible Church, and a Celebration of Life at 12 noon. A private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Fredric W. Scott can be made to Bethel Grove Bible Church, or Hospicare of Ithaca.