Fred T. Lewis, DVM

Dr. Fred Lewis grew up on a farm near Dover, Delaware. Fred joined the Army Air Corps in 1945, just two days after graduating from high school and was proud to have served his country in Europe at the end of World War II. After his service, he attended the University of Delaware Pre-Veterinary program, thus following his childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. In college, Fred competed for the U of D swim team and was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. Fred met his wife, Mary Agnes McCarville, at the University of Delaware. Mary Agnes was studying Education and waiting tables at the dining hall to help make ends meet. He was a slow eater, and conversation led to dates, romance, marriage in December of 1950 and their first of 10 children in October 1951.

Fred and Mary Agnes left Delaware for Ithaca, NY, where Fred attended the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine. Fred was able to attend Cornell University thanks to early acceptance after two years at the University of Delaware, the G.I. Bill, and working in the labs at night while Mary Agnes taught elementary school in Ithaca. Fred and Mary Agnes’s first child, Rick, was born in Ithaca. Fred graduated from the veterinary school in 1953.

Dr. Lewis began practicing veterinary medicine in Williamsport, PA, where son, Jim, was born. A   drug representative who routinely called on the Williamsport, PA, practice suggested that Howard County, Maryland, needed a veterinarian. With that, Fred and Mary Agnes moved the family to Howard County where he opened his own veterinary practice.

Mary Agnes and Fred rented a farmhouse on the Double H Ranch, near what is now Merriweather Post Pavilion. He worked from that location for four years seeing small animals and visiting many farms. The new city of Columbia began to develop, and the practice grew, along with the Lewis family; the remaining eight children were all born in Maryland and raised in Howard County. Fred and Mary Agnes built a Veterinary Hospital with the living space for the family above the hospital at the intersection of Routes 29 and 108. Fred often told stories of clients and staff hearing the pitter patter of the growing family at the 29 and 108 intersection location. With the growth of Howard County, the State of Maryland determined that a cloverleaf was needed at this intersection, so Fred and Mary Agnes built a new Veterinary Hospital on Route 108, that opened in August 1977. In addition to being loved and adored by Fred throughout their 70 years of marriage, Mary Agnes was always a vital part of every aspect of their business, performing all support jobs required of their busy veterinary practice, as well as their many other business endeavors.

Fred, with his son and partner Dr. Rick Lewis, and a staff of 35 sold the practice to Veterinary Centers of America (VCA) in 1995. Rick Lewis continued as Medical Director of VCA Lewis Animal Hospital for five more years before moving to Academy Animal Hospital in Baltimore in 2001. Fred continued to practice equine medicine and surgery and work from the family farm in Clarksville, Maryland, until only a few months prior to his passing. Dr. Lewis often said, "I never had to work a day in my life" because he loved and lived his profession.

Dr. Lewis was always active in the community and encouraged his children and grandchildren to do the same. He served as president of the St. Louis Elementary School Board in Clarksville and as president of the PTSA at Atholton High School. He served on the Board of Governors of the Howard County Hunt Club for four terms and even competed in Point-to-Point races on his favorite horse, Durly Lane, for several years. More recently, Fred and Mary Agnes were able to combine Fred's love of horses with their mutual interest in helping the community by establishing an annual ''Ten Oaks Cup'' polo match to benefit Our Daily Bread, a meal and education program run by Catholic Charities in Baltimore. The family pitched in to make this community event a successful fundraiser. Dr. Lewis bred and raced thoroughbreds and the maroon and white silks of the Lewis Family Racing Stable have been a fixture of Maryland horse racing for over five decades. His thoroughbred race wins include: the Shine Again Stakes (Katie's Love 5/26/2007), the Geisha Stakes (Celtic Katie 4/26/2014), and the Maryland Million Starter Handicap (Who Stole My Sock 4/26/2016).

Fred served on the Board of Commercial and Farmers Bank from 1966 to 1999, and as Chairman of the Board for nine of those years. He served on the Board of the YMCA and was fund raising chairman as they doubled the size of the facility. He continued to be active in the Rotary Club of Ellicott City until very recently when his health declined. Dr. Lewis served on the Maryland Veterinary Medical Association (MDVMA) Board of Directors and as Senior and Retired Members Chairperson. Dr. Lewis received the MDVMA Good Doctor Award and was awarded the MDVMA Lifetime Achievement Award in June 2018.

Dr. Lewis is a Founding Member of the Animal Matters Board of Howard County, and he helped locate and design the Howard County Animal Control Facility. Dr. Lewis served two terms on the Maryland Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and was among the Founding Members of the Emergency Veterinary Clinic on Mellor Ave, in Catonsville, and served as Secretary. He was a regular speaker for 4-H Clubs, League of Maryland Horsemen, Pony Clubs, schools, and community groups. Fred was an Eagle Scout, just like his seven sons (and two grandsons), and all three daughters were Girl Scouts. Fred received the Good Scout Award in 2002.

Fred T. Lewis was a brilliant veterinarian, an accomplished horseman, a proud World War II veteran, a student of history, and an avid reader. He was a charismatic leader of numerous civic and educational organizations yet would humbly reflect that “the Lord always looked after me.” During his 95 years in this world, he touched the lives of an immeasurable number of God’s creatures, great and small. Dr. Lewis often said, "I never had to work a day in my life" because he loved and lived his profession. Fred was married to his beloved wife, Mary Agnes, for 70 years, until her passing in 2020. Both Fred and Mary Agnes will be missed dearly by all who knew them. 

All things wise and wonderful, All things bright and beautiful, All creatures, great and small, The Lord God made them all. Fred Lewis, our brother, father, and beloved “Pop-Pop” spent a lifetime making this world a better place for all the creatures, human and otherwise, that he encountered. 

Dr. Lewis is survived by his brother, Art Lewis; his children, Rick (Suzy Jones); Jim (Anne Hurwitz); Lynn; Tom (Vicki Gruber); Tim (Margaret); Joan Lewis Kennedy (Andy Edleman); Ted (Lori Haas); Kathleen Lewis Schlichtmann (Don); Mike (Kim); and Jeff (Victoria Hernandez); 17 grandchildren – Kristen (Dustin) Sorotsky & Kara (Wesley) Shearer; Nick (Lindsay), Jillian & Melanie Kennedy; Alex Edwards; Danielle & Jake Schlichtmann; Ryan & Natalia Lewis; Kiera, Jared, & Samuel Lewis; Ben & Will Lewis; Federica & Raquel Lewis; and four great grandchildren – Hayley & Hunter Sorotsky, Emma Schlichtmann, and Landon Shearer, plus one more Shearer grandson on the way. 

A Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 2:00 to 4:00PM and 6:00 to 8:00PM at Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksville, P.A.,  12540 Clarksville Pike, Rt 108, Clarksville, MD 21029.        301-854-0095

A Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Louis Church, 12500 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, MD on Friday, March 18, 2022 at 11:00AM with interment to follow at St. Louis Parish Cemetery, 5950 Ten Oaks Rd, Clarksville, MD, 21029.

Donations in lieu of flowers:

Our Daily Bread c/o Catholic Charities:

320 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 www.cc-md.org  - contact Erin Boles 667-600-2021

The Shrine of St. Anthony at the Franciscan Monastery:

12290 Folly Quarter Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042 www.shrineofstanthony.org  - 410-531-2800

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Fred T. Lewis, DVM, please visit our floral store.