John Fred Sommerauer

He was the beloved life partner to Deborah (Debi) Barenkamp Roberson; devoted and loving Dad to Shannon (Randy), Lindsay (John), Abbey, Elora, Jillian, and Brienne; devoted and loving Nagypapa to Lucas and Jake and to Arlo and Remi; special bonus dad to Kyle Roberson; dear brother to Susan (John) McCormick; and loving uncle to Carolyn Moore, Anne Barenkamp (Jake Fisher) and Francis Barenkamp-Fisher, Emily (Avery) Andress and Sarah (Daniel) Cenedese.

John was born in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. He attended grade school through college in Guelph, Ontario, where he made lifelong friends.

Dr. Sommerauer graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School in 1982. Following a family medicine internship, he did his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario, serving as chief resident during his third year. He completed a two year fellowship in pediatric critical care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Developing an interest in transplant medicine, he did a multiple organ transplant fellowship at University Hospital in London, Ontario the following year.

His first faculty position was as an attending consultant in the pediatric critical care unit, ER, and also Co-Director of the transplant program at Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. In 1992, he joined the faculty at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and was an attending in the pediatric ICU and part of the liver transplant program at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, TX. In 1999, he moved his family to Kansas City to join the medical staff at the Children’s Mercy Hospital where again he practiced pediatric critical care as well as liver transplant management. He was Medical Director of the Pediatric ICU and Section Chief 2005–10, Chair of the hospital Ethics Committee 2002-7, and served many years on the Medical Staff Executive Committee, including as medical staff President, 2013–15. He was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri-KC and published 32 research papers, seven as the lead author, plus chapters in 8 medical textbooks. At the bedside, he was an extremely skilled pediatric intensivist and liver transplant specialist, as well as a compassionate physician and animated teacher.

In addition to all his notable academic and administrative accomplishments, John's wise mentorship and warm friendship strongly and positively influenced his many colleagues and coworkers. His direct care of patients and families cannot be understated, but his impact on his physician peers promises to benefit the lives of children and families in many years to come.

In John’s leisure time, he enjoyed golf, reading, traveling, fitness and cheering on the Mapleleafs and the Chiefs, as well as sipping on a fine bourbon whiskey.

John left this world leaving behind a legacy of kindness, integrity and a rich life of accomplishments and relationships. He will be greatly missed.

If you so desire, donations to Newhouse, P.O. Box 240019, Kansas City, MO 64124 USA would be appreciated by the family.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for later.