VN November 2022

Vetnews | November 2022 29 From V-Tech, an established ISO-accredited, state-of-the-art facility, ensuring compliance, quality and service you can trust. Email: pharmacist@v-tech.co.za | WhatsApp: +27 82 314 4510 | Customer Care: 0860 109 779 SPECIALISED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOUNDING OF VETERINARY MEDICINES v-tech.co.za Dr Jesse Coleman Our father, Jesse Henry Coleman, was born in Springs on the 9th of December 1948. His early years were spent growing up on the farm: Lake Warden in the Hoopstad district, along the Vaal River in the Free State. He shared many memories of hunting, fishing, and horses. His upbringing was one of humble beginnings. He learnt to catch and ride his own horse at age five and started school around that time. He attended Bloemhof Afrikaans School for his Primary years and was then shipped off to boarding school at Potch Boys High and joined Milton House. His last two years were spent at St. Andrews in Grahamstown after moving to a farm in Peddie in the Eastern Cape. Jesse matriculated at the end of 1965 and went farming for a year with his dad, after which he attended Onderstepoort and qualified as a veterinarian in 1972. At this time, he was married with two children. After a year, he looked to greener pastures. With the help of Brian Francis and the then mayor of Benoni, John Barrable, he bought the now 125 Pretoria road property and started Rynfield Veterinary Hospital cold turkey. Our dad had a love for wildlife and fulfilled his lifelong dream to canoe from Shakawe to Maun with a friend in 1974. Rynfield Veterinary Hospital grew to be successful, and in 1978 he started farming seriously and moved permanently to his family farm in 1987. Our dad was the most energetic and disciplined person I have ever known. He was always busy and tended to run everywhere rather than walk, especially on the farm. He started the Benoni Combat Shooting Club in the 1970s and enjoyed karate, parachuting, hiking, scuba diving, hunting, motorbikes and vintage cars. He loved all things nature and has been breeding Boran cattle on his farm for the past ten years. At the beginning of the Covid Pandemic, he sold his share in Rynfield Vet and started Long Life Veterinary Hospital in Honiball street, Rynfield. He has been part of the greater Benoni community since 1973 and loved practising as a vet. He was an experienced surgeon and was competent in treating many different animals, from lizards, hedgehogs, snakes and birds to cats, dogs and large animals. He loved a challenge, and when faced with something complex, he would study and master it.He was “old school” and often did things for many people pro bono. He was an awesome dad and a good friend to many. His tragic passing leaves a gaping hole in many of our lives. To us, he will always be a legend. Dr Jesse Coleman is survived by his son, two daughters and eight grandchildren. His funeral and celebration of his life were held privately as per his wishes. As his family, we would like to thank everyone for the incredible support we have been given by the Benoni community, extended family, friends and our dad’s loyal clients. Thank you for supporting Dr Jesse Coleman for the past 49 years. He will be sorely missed and celebrated often. v Allison Sweetman (Daughther)