In memoriam : Gertruida Hermanna Gerdes (‘Truuske’) 1939 - 2022

Abstract

Truuske was born in Cape Town in 1939. Truuske started her studies at the University of Cape Town followed 5 years at the University of Pretoria in the BVSc course at Onderstepoort. She was an early female graduate at the Faculty and was the only girl in her class. After graduation in 1962 she worked for 18 years in small animal private practice in Cape Town and in Italy. In 1983, Truuske was appointed Researcher in the section of Veterinary Virology at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute. She was made Acting Head of this Section from 2001 to 2006 and was contracted to continue with her work after official retirement in 2004, until she left to retire in Cape Town in 2010. While at OVI, Truuske contributed to many international scientific meetings and co-authored many refereed scientific articles. She died in Cape Town on 21 October 2022 after suffering from a stroke.