Dr. Julio "Doc" Malnati Obituary

Dr. Julio John "Doc" Malnati, 95, died Thursday, February 23, 2012 at the White Oak Manor Nursing Home, Newberry, SC. He was born October 29, 1916 in Sheffield, MA to Antonio and Adele Ambrosini Malnati. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1937 with a Veterinary Medical Doctor's degree. He opened a small animal practice in North Adams, MA; however, he soon became recognized for his sterility and reproduction work in the dairy industry. In 1942 he established his own herd of registered Jersey Cattle. In 1972 Dr. Malnati retired from his veterinary practice to form a partnership with Briggs Cunningham, moving to Newberry, SC and establishing Bush River Jerseys. A year into the partnership Dr. Malnati purchased Mr. Cunningham's interest and became the sole proprietor of their farming operation. The farm is still in the family, managed by his grandson, Richard A. Doran Jr. and his family. Dr. Malnati has received numerous recognitions for his service to the Jersey Breed and the Dairy Industry. He was elected three times to serve on the American Jersey Cattle Association Board of Directors from two different regions of the country. Never has any other individual achieved this honor. He served the American Jersey Cattle Association as Vice President in addition to serving on every committee on this board, with the majority of his time spent as the Chairman of the Finance Committee. Dr. Malnati has also served as the President of The Massachusetts Jersey Cattle Club, South Carolina Jersey Cattle Association and The South Carolina Dairy Herd Improvement Association as well as serving as a director for the New England Jersey Breeders Association. In 1994 "Doc" was inducted into the South Carolina Dairy Hall of Fame adding to the coveted Boss Turner Award from the New England Jersey Breeders for his service to the breed in the Northeast. The recognition continued with the two highest honors awarded by the American Jersey Cattle Association, first of which was the Master Breeder Award in 1993 followed by the Distinguished Service Award in 2000. Dr. Malnati has also been awarded for his work on behalf of the entire Dairy Industry with the presentation of the National Dairy Shrine Award in 2003. This was the same year he established and endowed the Russell-Malnati Scholarship at the American Jersey Cattle Association in the youth program. Dr. Malnati's impact on the Jersey Breed has had a far reaching effect not only in the United States but the across the world. Bush River Jerseys' breeding has been the nucleus for herds in Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, India, Mexico and Pakistan. Even with all of his success and accomplishments, "Doc" has remained a very humble and unassuming individual. He was a dedicated member of Saint Mark's Catholic Church as a member of the guild and serving on the finance committee. Dr. Malnati is survived by his wife Marilyn Lundvall Russell Malnati of Newberry, SC; his daughter, Joan L. Malnati of Newberry, SC; two grandsons, Richard A. (Tammie) Doran Jr., of Newberry, SC and Kelley P. (Jessica) Doran of Bethesda, MD; and six great-grandchildren; step-children, Nan Elizabeth (Alex) Curtis of Watkinsville, GA, C.A. (Kirsten) Russell of Hilmar, CA, and Dr. William (Alice) Russell of Ocala, FL; six step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild. He was predeceased in death by his first wife, Margaret Chase Malnati. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 AM, Monday, February 27, at St. Mark Catholic Church by Father Noel Tria and Father James Crowley. Private interment will be at a later date in Newberry Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Sunday at the Whitaker Funeral Home, Newberry. Honorary pallbearers will be the Men's Club of St. Mark Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to the Russell-Malnati Scholarship c/o American Jersey Cattle Association, 6486 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068, Saint Mark's Catholic Church Building Fund, 928 Boundary Street Newberry, S.C. 29108 or the Newberry Opera House, PO Box 357, Newberry SC 29108. On line condolences may be sent to the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com . 02.23.2012