Yvonne LeMaitre

By Ashley Han

Yvonne LeMaitre atop the American Quarter Horse Association Champion, Pegasus H Bar, aka Miss Beasley.

Friend of UC Davis Yvonne LeMaitre was always an Aggie at heart. Her love of music and animals continues to live on at the university, a legacy built on her generosity and desire to help others.

Before her death in 2015, LeMaitre created the Yvonne LeMaitre Wild Oak Farm Scholarship to support veterinary students and established the Fourness-LeMaitre Programming Endowment for the Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. These gifts were prompted by her family's deep roots in Yolo County and long, close relationships with UC Davis.

LeMaitre passed away in 2015 and left behind a legacy of giving back to the community around her.

The LeMaitre family owned hundreds of acres of farmland. In her youth, LeMaitre became an accomplished equestrian and started her own horse breeding program with the help of School of Veterinary Medicine professors John Hughes and Irwin Liu. LeMaitre also worked with John D. Wheat, a late professor emeritus, when she became interested in equine orthopedics.

"UC Davis was instrumental in helping Yvonne develop her skills in horse breeding and essentially be a pioneer for women in that field," said Susan Gray, a close friend of the LeMaitre family and trustee of Yvonne's estate. "John became Yvonne's mentor, and she recognized the vet school as an important asset and partner for her passion in equine health."

LeMaitre's fruitful partnership with the School of Veterinary Medicine compelled her to establish a scholarship to support future veterinarians. Every year, Gray receives thank-you letters from students who have received the Yvonne LeMaitre Wild Oak Farm Scholarship. This year, she received letters from three students who expressed their gratitude toward LeMaitre and her gifts.

"UC Davis has an incredible veterinary program that offers so many unique opportunities for students," Stacy Kim D.V.M. '22 said. "I feel super grateful that Ms. LeMaitre was willing to support my education and take some of the financial burden off my shoulders; now I can focus my energy on diverse experiences and becoming the best vet I can be."

Kim plans to pursue an internship and residency program that specializes in small animal surgery. Like LeMaitre, Kim has found mentors who guide and support her career goals, such as Brian Leonard and Po-Yen Cho, assistant professors in Surgical and Radiological Sciences.

In her youth, LeMaitre worked seven days a week on her family's Wild Oak Farm ranch, caring for many horses.

Art appreciation
LeMaitre's gifts also extend to the arts, as she shared her mother's talent and passion for music. She established the Fourness-LeMaitre Programming Endowment on behalf of her mother, Verna Fourness-LeMaitre, to support performances at the Mondavi Center such as Boston Brass in 2018, Pink Martini in 2019 and a future performance of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

"Yvonne always brought her sense of joy and good humor with her to the Mondavi Center, whether for a serious undertaking like the Royal Philharmonic or a humorous evening with Pink Martini or the Trocks," said Don Roth, executive director of the Mondavi Center.

Gray added that LeMaitre had "an absolutely gorgeous singing voice" and the Mondavi Center was a very special place for both her and her mother. After LeMaitre passed, her memorial service was even held at the center and Gray made sure all of her wishes were met.

Forever home
LeMaitre helped Gray coach and care for her own show horse in the '70s, and the two worked together until Gray's career in banking and finance took off. Two decades later, LeMaitre asked Gray to be her trustee. In 2012, LeMaitre was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.

LeMaitre's close partnership with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine allowed her to become a leader in the horse breeding field—a field dominated by men during her time.

"Yvonne knew I had a love of animals that equaled hers, and I think she knew I would absolutely carry out her wishes," Gray said. "But I remember telling her she better not leave me with a bunch of horses to take care of."

In 2015 LeMaitre passed away, leaving Gray with 25 senior horses. But with the help of UC Davis faculty and staff, Gray was able to rehome 20. The remaining five lived out their lives at the UC Davis Center for Equine Health. Gray continues to visit LeMaitre's last surviving horse, Joey, at UC Davis—always arriving with a handful of carrots.

"UC Davis became a place where Yvonne's passion for animals and the arts intersected," Gray said. "I am confident that Yvonne is looking down and smiling at the exceptional work done by the university and their support of her legacy. She would be eternally grateful for UC Davis' care of her beloved horses."

Like Yvonne, you can support your passions at UC Davis after your lifetime by making a legacy gift. We'd be happy to help you find the right gift option to meet your financial needs and charitable goals. Contact the Office of Planned Giving at (530) 754-2286 or plannedgiving@ucdavis.edu to get started.