Dr. Tedd Alan Hamaker died Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, from complications associated with his diagnosis of cancer seven months ago. He was born on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 1961, in Tacoma, Wash., to Dr. William and Nancy Angulo Hamaker, now of Kansas City. He is survived by his wife Crista Hogan; his children, Joe, Lena, and Daniel; Crista's children, Rebecca, and her husband Nathaniel, Claude and Theo; his grandson, Soren, 2, who provided humor and hope in final days; his siblings, Bill and wife, Sheila, Littleton, Colo.; Jim Hamaker, Paris, Texas; and Jennifer, of Kansas City; seven nieces and nephews; his children's mother, Lisa; his familia completa in Cuba; two special pets, Breaker and Dewey, and his many friends and colleagues. The son of an Army officer, Tedd and his family lived in a number of places and his mother credits their years in San Francisco, in particular, for his eclectic personality and great sense of adventure and independence. In 1983, he set off on a cross-country bike trip and found his calling as he rode from ocean to ocean and saw veterinarians' offices anchoring communities across America. He was a proud graduate and supporter of Colorado College, where he found friends who came from across the United States to make him laugh and reminisce during his final weeks of life, and the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. After Veterinary School, he lived in Atlanta for two years working for the Centers for Disease Control and a private veterinary practice. He decided there that he wanted to own a practice and began looking for the right community. He moved to Springfield in 1991 and carried on the tradition of Missouri's oldest vet clinic, Springfield Veterinary Hospital, on St. Louis Street - "Route 66" - where he loved nurturing the relationships between his clients and their pets. Among his many nicknames, he also was known as "Dr. Tedd, Supervet" as he shared information and answered questions on TV and radio segments. In 2008, his practice for which he received a state award for excellence in small business expanded to its new Galloway clinic near a favorite greenway trail. Tedd was so proud of his children, Joe, a debater in Central High's IB program; Lena, a biology whiz, and Daniel, who is carrying on Tedd's love of hockey, both at Pershing. He also was proud of his exemplary 14-year attendance at the Rotary Club of Springfield, where he met Crista, who sustained him through their too few years together. In November 2009, he relished taking Crista to meet his family in Cuba for their third wedding anniversary. When Tedd developed an interest, he launched into it full force. He loved baseball - his optimism was second nature as a longtime Royals fan; The Boss, whom he traveled many times to see; and Elvis Costello. When Jordan Valley Ice Park opened, he started playing and supporting hockey, including sponsoring his "Yard Dogz" middle-age men's team and the Missouri State Ice Bears. Most of all, Tedd wanted to be defined by his enthusiasm for life, his family and his business, not his illness. He's leaving Galloway Village in the good hands of Drs. Molly Ramsey and Vanessa Firl, who will continue to "practice excellence" as he always did. A visitation will take place from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 2, at Mediacom Ice Park, 635 E. Trafficway. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, at Christ Episcopal Church, 601 E. Walnut St., with arrangements through Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to places that have special meaning to Tedd -Ozark Greenways, P.O. Box 50733, Springfield, Mo., 65805; or the Moxie Cinema, c/o Community Foundation of the Ozarks, 425 E. Trafficway, Springfield, Mo., 65806. Tedd also wanted to encourage the contributions that he had hoped to make by donating blood or volunteering at a hospital.