Randall Gene Groat "Rudy"
FREEPORT - Randall Gene Groat, 60, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully on December 25, 2013 with family near after a long illness. Rudy was raised in Richfield, MN and a 20 year resident of Falmouth and Freeport ME.
He is survived by his sons (Kristian, Alexander and Nickolas), former wives Karen Miller Groat and Kari Christiansen, his mother Edith and siblings/spouses, Ronald D and Jennifer Groat, Jerome and Mary Groat, Valaurie and Gregory Trumm and many friends, co-workers, and extended family.
He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota and completed post doctoral programs at University of WI (Madison) and a fellowship at Stanford University in California. He retired as Senior Scientist from IDEXX in 2012 after 22 years. When Rudy started, IDEXX was a fledgling company of less than 100 employees and he was an important part of the synergy that enabled the company to expand and grow to the IDEXX it is today, employing more than 5,000 employees worldwide. Rudy was a key figure in the development of the Canine Heartworm and Feline Infectious Disease franchises, championing products that diagnosed feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus, for which he was awarded over half-dozen patents. Over the years, Rudy was a respected mentor for many other scientists and
student interns. He was a quiet man of many talents often expressed through his cooking, gardening, and humor. Some of the things he enjoyed most in life were fishing, camping, golf, and music (especially if he was with his sons).
He was a church organist and professional pianist, with the stage name “Rudy Lopez” as leader of his recording and performing group; the Rudy Lopez Quintet, which consisted of his older brother and three of his closest friends from his high school and college years.
A memorial service will be held at North Yarmouth Congregational Church, 3 Gray Rd. North Yarmouth, on Saturday, Jan.11 at 11:30am.
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