John Elliot focused his research on ruminant nutrition
John Murray Elliot, professor of animal science emeritus at Cornell University, died Tuesday, November 26, 2019, in Ithaca, New York.
He was born November 6, 1927, in Howick, Quebec, a son of the late William Wallace Elliot and Christena May Lang.
After his graduation from McGill University, Elliot studied for a Master’s degree at the University of Vermont, where he met his wife, Jane Preston. They were married in Burlington, Vermont, in 1951. From 1950 to 1960 he was a member of the faculty at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In 1956, he was selected as a Danforth Teacher and took a leave of absence to complete his graduate work at Cornell, receiving his Ph.D. in animal nutrition with minors in animal physiology and biochemistry in 1958.
In 1960, he was invited to join the faculty at Cornell, with the understanding that his primary responsibility would be that of teaching an introductory course in animal science and that he would have the opportunity to engage in research of his choice. He was awarded national recognition for outstanding teaching by the American Dairy Science Association. His research was focused primarily on vitamin B12 production and glucose and propionate metabolism in the ruminant. From 1983 until his retirement in 1991, he served as department chairman. He was recognized for “distinguished administration” by Gamma Sigma Delta and was named a Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association.
Elliot was a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Animal Science, the American Institute of Nutrition, and the American Dairy Science Association, where at one time he served as president of the Eastern Division, and later, nationally, as chairman of the Production Division. He was elected to Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Zeta and AGFU, and was a member of City Club of Ithaca, the First Congregational Church and, some years ago, the Cayuga Heights Volunteer Fire Company.
He is survived by two sons, John Preston Elliot (Mary) and Douglas Muir Elliot; by a brother, Donald McGregor Elliot; a sister, Hazel Gartshore; two step-grandchildren; a step-great-granddaughter; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Preston Elliot; a brother, William Ross Elliot; and two sisters, Kathleen Cowper and Marjorie Robinson.
At Murray’s request, there will be no calling hours. A memorial event may be announced later. After cremation, interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery in Amherst, Massachusetts.
