Lori Ann Karol

Our dear wife and mother, Lori Karol, peacefully passed away February 26, 2022, in Dallas, Texas, following an 18 month-long battle with a Glioblastoma brain tumor. Born to Joan and Larry Weber November 7, 1961, she was raised in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, alongside her siblings, Sandi and Randy. She completed her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Michigan, where she met Bob, her husband of nearly 37 years.

Following her residency and fellowship, Lori practiced at University of California, Davis, for 3 years before relocating to Dallas, Texas, where she enjoyed a 27-year career at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. At Scottish Rite, she became a world-renowned pediatric orthopedic surgeon, a cherished partner, a beloved mentor and teacher. Lori dedicated her professional life to treating children with scoliosis, clubfoot and other severe orthopedic and neuromuscular conditions. She was a prolific author and researcher in her field and served on the clinical faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Her proudest professional achievement was her time as the first female president of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) from 2015-2016. Additionally, she was soon to be the first female president of the Scoliosis Research Society, a role which she could not fulfill due to her illness. She cherished mentoring others and worked tirelessly to advocate for fellow female physicians throughout her career. She was appointed chief of pediatric orthopedic surgery at Children’s Hospital Colorado in 2020, where she worked until her illness forced her to step down. She received several accolades throughout her career, most recently receiving POSNA’s 2021 Distinguished Achievement Award for her impact on the field of pediatric orthopedics. However, she was most proud of the positive role she was able to have in the lives of the children and families she served throughout her career.

Besides her vast professional achievements, Lori was a dedicated wife and mother. With her brief spare time, she never missed a sports game, band concert, or dance recital, and she even dabbled in coaching volleyball, softball, and Destination Imagination teams for her daughters. Lori loved to travel, vacationing in the Outer Banks in North Carolina, seeing Broadway shows in New York with her daughters, and going on global adventures with Bob to memorable places such as Italy, France, Spain, and Israel – Lori always had a countdown to her next vacation on her desk. She was a lover of yoga, entertaining, skiing, tennis, and tending to her garden. She enjoyed a hearty breakfast, playing piano, a good game of scrabble, working a crossword puzzle with her daughters, and she was an avid Michigan sports fan (Go Blue). She, above all, loved to spend time with her family and cherished the times when “all her chicks were in the nest.”

Lori was a woman who could do it all, and will be remembered for her generosity, sharp intellect, compassion, and fierce dedication. For all who were lucky enough to know her, she will be sorely missed.

Lori is predeceased by her mother, Joan Weber. She is survived by her father, Larry Weber; her husband, Bob Karol; children Molly, Leah, and Abby; sister, Sandi Heythaler (Joe); and brother, Randy Weber

(Christy).

Visitation will be held March 4 at Sparkman Hillcrest from 5-7 pm. Funeral will be held March 5 at Christ the King Church at 1 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support:

The Musculoskeletal Research Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado

Online: https://www.supportchildrenscolorado.org/LoriKarol

By mail (please include Lori’s name in memo line):

PO Box 5585

Denver, CO 80217-9142

The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center

Online: https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dukehealth/?designation=3912597

By mail: The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center

DUMC Box 3624

Durham, NC 27710

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Karol family.