Lear, Terri L., PhD
Lear, Teri L., PhD, passed away, Saturday, May 14, 2016 in Lexington, KY. Teri was born to the late Robert D. and Dorothy W. Lear on October 11, 1951 in Louisville, KY.
She acquired a love of horses very early, especially Saddlebreds, leading to a life long study of horses, as an owner, as a student and later as a research scientist. Teri earned a BS degree in Biology at Indiana University Southeast, an MS degree in Cytogenetics at the University of Louisville and a PhD degree in Fenetics at the University of Kentucky. In connection with her doctoral studies she became one of the foremost experts in cytogenetics of the horse and joined the faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Kentucky.
During her distinguished career Professor Lear published key discoveries in the area of horse genetics, trained PhD and MS students, was one of the leaders in the Horse Genome Project and provided valuable clinical cytogenetics services to veterinarians, worldwide. Teri especially enjoyed the fellowship of the international community of scientists working on the horse, visiting them abroad or hosting them at her home. Teri also derived great joy from her home, garden, cats and horses. Teri is survived by her sister, Sharon L. Cooper, her niece, Leigh A. Cooper and grandnephew Barrett Lear Brown. A memorial service was held Saturday, May 28. Donations are encouraged for Hospice of the Bluegrass.