Whether it was attending UC/Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine and 2-year residency in clinical oncology and teaching at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Cambridge, England - before women did that sort of thing - or devoting her entire life to clinical research of opossums from 1982 to 2000, she was always the pioneer. Along with being the country's foremost authority on the Virginia Opossum, she had achievements in many other areas:
I am sure I am not alone in stating that I will long remember having been "reduced to cinders" by the good doctor if I strayed or wavered from her instructions or guidelines, was slow in my learning process, or ever so much as mentioned the Jurgelski Diet in her presence.
But, when I applied her teachings, always found she was right all along. Fortified with a shot of whiskey before each phone call, just in case, I was able to go back to her for the many "clarifications" I would need over the years.
Her protocols were slowly accumulated and sorely tried. And all us opossum people can safely stand on her shoulders and continue on, fortified with her solid base of research, as we build upon the body of knowledge she has left us. It is written that what one does in life lives through eternity. That will certainly be true with the advances she made in the understanding of the Virginia Opossum. To borrow the imagery of Kahlil Gibran ... the arrow of her life's work has left the bow.
She was sharp, she was ruthlessly honest, she was a steady and caring mentor and friend, and she is gone from us too soon. She will be missed.
Janice Hughlett
President, National Opossum Society
If you would like to share your remembrances of Dr. Henness on this page, please send a letter to the webmaster.
A small Photo Album is being prepared, including other personal memories of Dr. Henness.
What a godsend, I thought, what a remarkable human being to devote so much energy to caring for these animals that, at that time, I had only recently fallen in love with. How splendid to find others who shared my love.
That was typical of Anita until the time that she had to quit practicing veterinary medicine. She was attentive to each and every opossum, and each and every human. That attention was not always welcomed by the humans– you could not hide from this lady. Call her with a problem, and then not follow-up with her? Hint at an unethical interest in them? You would then receive the famous Post Card ZAP, a handwritten message that inquired after the opossum, and demanded a response. No one slipped through the cracks with Dr. Henness. No 'possum, no person. And what we humans sometimes found it difficult to understand..it was ALWAYS about the opossums. Those of us that knew her well also knew that she made enemies easily...I often found myself in the position of trying to temper her words to others, explain that if her teachings seemed difficult, it was only because she had been there, done that, and simply could not bear to have an opossum suffer because their human would not do what was proven to be the correct thing for their health. Her frustration was often close to the surface, after so many years of watching her beloved opossums- and it didn't matter if they were mine or yours or hers-(you animal people know what I mean)- sicken from human-induced causes.
I've joked, and maybe I shouldn't have, about becoming a real NOS member only after being yelled at by Dr. Henness.
I only wish she was here to yell at me now.
Dr. Henness was one of the most well-read, well-spoken, well-written and gracious persons I have ever encountered. While I speak here about the fractious side of her, she was also the epitome of a learned and mannered Lady- a truly refreshing isle of elegance. She loved to read mysteries, she loved to watch "Matlock", she loved antiques, she loved to draw, she loved Polly's pies.
She loved opossums.
Over the past 2 years, we at NOS have been carrying on without the verbal medical assistance from Dr. Henness. While sustaining our cohesion as a group, we are painfully tested as we deal with the difficult rehabilitation and medical issues that opossums present with. Those of you that are reading this far into the Web site know that they can be very difficult animals to raise and rehabilitate, and surely join with me in direly missing the sure footing of Dr.'s voice on the other end of the telephone.
But we will and must continue to build upon her legacy, for the benefit of the animals that bring us together. Veterinarians, rehabilitators, caregivers, please report on your experiences, your successes and failures, so that we may add to our knowledge base and continue this work.
Rest in Peace, Dr. Anita Henness. We will carry on, until we meet again.
Paula Arms
Vice-President, National Opossum Society
If you would like to share your remembrances of Dr. Henness on this page, please send a letter to the webmaster.
A small Photo Album is being prepared, including other personal memories of Dr. Henness.
-Barb Reid
-Becky Rusher
Like Raine, I had a "Henry".only mine was Alex. I loved Alex dearly, but I was clueless. I'll never forget my first phone call to Dr. Henness - she scared me to death. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE FEEDING HIM HAMBURGER???!!!"
She had a way of setting you straight! But it was clear that she knew opossums and had a wealth of knowledge to share. I learned so much from her. My veterinarian was very skeptical at first too - until I insisted that he call her. Suddenly he was a believer too. She sacrificed everything for the sake of opossums - and we, as folks who love opossums, are the beneficiaries. We're light years ahead of where we would be in understanding them without her years of research.
-Linda Lacny