of Little Rock, AR

March 1, 2016 - June 26, 2016

Dr. Peter Talivaldis Vessels passed away June 26, 2016 at 12:18 AM at the age of 93. Dr. Vessels was a microbiologist of wide experience. He received his medical education at the University of Latvia, University of Prague and the University of Munich. In Europe he was associated with the Pasteur Institute in the fields of bacteriology and immunology. He did research in rabies vaccine immunization reactions at Karl's University in Prague, Czechoslovakia. His diversified medical background brought him to Philadelphia in 1956 to work at Presbyterian Hospital where he specialized in tuberculosis work.

In 1957 and 1958 he worked as a biochemist in the cardiac catherization laboratory and was a member of the open heart surgery pioneering team.

Moving to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958, Dr. Vessels was an instructor in anatomy, physiology, and microbiology at the Baptist Medical School of Nursing. He became the Director of the Microbiology Department at Baptist Hospital and a Science professor of the Nursing School. His students remembered him as a tough professor, but always with a smile on his face and a vivid humor. He quipped ''I might sometimes be sick in a hospital and I don't want an incompetent nurse to be at my bedside.

In 1965, he began work on his Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences where he worked as a lecturer and laboratory assistant in neuroanatomy.

In 1967, Dr. Vessels was the director and research analyst of the Brucellosis Eradication Laboratory of the U.S.D.A Veterinary Services in Little Rock. He retired after 16 years.

He was an active member of the Little Rock Yacht Club, Arkansas Wine Society, Little Rock Ski Club, and Charter Member of River City Civitan Club, and several other charitable organizations.

He will be remembered by his son Peter Eric Vessels, his daughter Monique Lynda Vessels Schelle, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He enjoyed mentoring his friends and family. He had a lot of knowledge to share and enjoyed doing so from his education and worldly travels.

Dr. Vessels was a lover of nature and natural beauty. He adopted the Natural State of Arkansas as his home mainly because of the beautiful clear water lakes and streams and plenty of hunting grounds. He spent many weekends with his kids water skiing and camping on his favorite lake '''' Lake Ouachita.

He will be cremated and his ashes distributed in flowing natural waters which will return his remains to the shores of his Viking ancestors homeland in the Baltic Sea.

His love of nature reflected in every aspect of his life. He is well known for his famous saying ''Live a Life of Active Leisure''.

He was a charmer and a gentleman; he will be deeply missed.

A celebration of his life will be held at his daughter's house at a future date.

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