Robert Jolly (1930 – 2026)

Their Story

Robert Dudley Jolly was a distinguished New Zealand veterinary scientist whose career at Massey University spanned over three decades and left an indelible mark on animal pathology research. Born in Hamilton in 1930, he studied veterinary science at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1955 before gaining practical experience in veterinary practice in Rotorua. After earning his PhD in 1964, he joined Massey University as a senior lecturer and rose to become an emeritus professor, establishing the institution's pathobiology group as one of the world's leading centers for veterinary research and graduate training. Jolly's research made groundbreaking contributions to understanding animal models of human disease, particularly his work on mannosidosis and Batten's Disease. His development of the New Zealand mannosidosis control scheme, implemented between 1972 and 1982, was the first inherited disease-control program of its kind in a national animal population and effectively eliminated an economically significant livestock disease. His scholarly achievements earned him election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1985 and the prestigious Hector Medal in 1995. Though he formally retired from teaching in 1995, Jolly remained devoted to advancing veterinary science, mentoring numerous doctoral students and continuing to contribute to the field he had helped transform during his remarkable career.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Jolly