Roger A. Caras, ASPCA President Emeritis, Dies At Age 72

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Sunday, 18 February 2001

Roger A. Caras, ASPCA president emeritis, dies at age 72

Roger A. Caras, President Emeritus of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), died yesterday at the age of 72 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Maryland.

"The ASPCA is deeply saddened by the loss of a true champion of all animals," said ASPCA President and CEO Dr. Larry Hawk. "Roger Caras was considered by many to be one of the premier animal advocates of the twentieth century, spending a lifetime as a champion for wildlife, companion animals and the environment in his professional and personal life. We shall miss him."

Steven Elkman, ASPCA Chairman of the Board expressed his condolences and sympathy on behalf of the ASPCA Board of Directors. "Animal advocates throughout the world will feel the loss of this most wonderful human being," said Elkman.

"I feel honored to have been friends with Roger Caras for over ten years. In the coming months, the ASPCA will honor his memory with a party, to celebrate Roger's life and remarkable legacy of kindness and compassion for all animals. That's what he would have wanted."

In 1991, Caras became the 14th President of the ASPCA, the nation's first humane organization after serving seventeen years as the Special Correspondent on Animals and the Environment for ABC News. Previously, he had been the House Naturalist for eight years at NBC News, and has authored more than 70 books about animals. After retiring in 1999, he was named President Emeritus of The ASPCA and continued to advise the organization about animal welfare issues.

He is survived by his wife, Jill Langdon Barclay, his son Dr. Barclay Caras and daughter Pamela Caras-Rupert. The Carases have four grandchildren. A private remembrance ceremony will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the ASPCA.

For more information, or to contact American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, see their website at: www.aspca.org