Roll Call Tribute

Katie Deanna Huntzinger 

March 6, 1998 - September 30, 2024 

It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic loss of our beloved, Katie Deanna Huntzinger, who passed away on September 30, 2024. She was a kind, compassionate soul who touched the lives of everyone around her. She was a brilliant young woman studying at The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) #TAMUVetMed and was in her 3rd year there. Her sudden passing has left our family heartbroken and navigating the unimaginable.

Katie is the beloved daughter of Mark & Gigi Huntzinger (Ghazarosian). Other family includes Gina & Michael Amerson with daughters, Kathryn & Jessica, Marty & Patsy Ghazarosian with children, Matthew, Lisa & Curtis, Scott Huntzinger with sons, Paul & Keith, Bruce & Sharon Huntzinger with children, Deb & Brett and many other aunts, uncles and cousins.

When our amazing, sweet Katie left this earth, she left the many people who knew her shocked and saddened at the fact that they would no longer see her bright smile, experience her vibrant energy or witness how she engaged with everyone!

Katie was a brilliant young woman studying at The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) #TAMUVetMed and was in her 3rd year there.

Katie accomplished and enjoyed a lot in her short life. She was passionate & hard working from a young age. Her love of horses began at 7 and she was gifted her first horse, Chico, and started riding at 9! She competed in gymkhanas, barrel racing and more! Later she found her passion for reigning and working cow horse with her horse Samson and the support of her dedicated trainers! During this time, she realized her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

While attending Catalina Foothills H.S. she began working at Pima Animal Emergency Vet Clinic (2013-2018). She continued working there during her first 2 years at the U of A (2016-2020). She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Honors College at the U of A with her BS in Veterinary Science and minor in Biochemistry. She was a veterinary care student volunteer for the Wild Horse Inmate Program, Florence, AZ from 2017-2020. While volunteering and being an undergraduate researcher for this program, she authored and submitted an 157 page honors thesis to the U of A Honors College. While accomplishing all of this, she also worked as a veterinary technician at Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson (2018-2020). She shadowed and assisted many other equine and small animal vets here in Tucson, Texas and Pennsylvania. She did all of this to become a AGGIE Vet!

She was not only compassionate for people but for all animals large and small, especially ones she could help! She was a smart, beautiful soul and passionate person.

We wish she could have reached her dream but we know that she is taking care of the animals in heaven. Katie will truly be missed. #NOMV

A celebration will be held for Katie on January 11, 2025. For those that wish to attend, please reach out to Gigi via email at huntzinger2921@gmail.com for details.