I can't add anything more than what has already been written about how Dr. Summers was such a kind, caring man of true spirit. All I can add is that he touched my life so profoundly, as he has many others'. I sought a Gastroenterology Fellowship training position in the USA coming from Canada, to find opportunities to research Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Dr. Summers was one of the main reasons I chose to go to Iowa City, when he worked alongside Drs. Weinstock and Elliott. He was one of the first people I met at my first visit, and remained a central role for me during my nine years there. Soon after my arrival there, he invited me to speak to his church group about my own religion, Zoroastrianism, little known to most Americans. I would have declined the invite form anyone other than he. Dr. Summers contributed personally to my research efforts at UIHC, both materially and conceptually. He introduced me to foreign contacts. He truly wanted me to succeed. He was one of the few human beings on Earth whom I trusted unequivocally and endlessly. I hope to meet him again some day, in the Beloved place to where his soul has surely moved. I hold his memory as one of the finest human beings I ever knew.

I spent 3 years in Iowa City as a Gastroenterology fellow in the 1980's. I just now heard of Bob's passing.

I was one of Professor Summers' Gastroenterology fellows in UI from 2003-06. He was not only a superb mentor, but also a caring one, who made each of his students feel special. He was always curious about my home country, Sudan. He told me he loves to travel and looks forward to visiting me when i go back home. Well, Bob, I am back hone now.... And rest assured that your knowledge is now helping patients thousands of miles away from Iowa City. You will be missed

The world will miss Dr. Summers. I assisted him, briefly, with a research study. He cared so much for his patients, and spent more time with them that what was "allowed." He said he had to spend time listening to his patients, which couldn't be accomplished in 10 minutes. He touched many lives, and will be missed.

My thoughts are with his family.

Rebecca and Family - I will always remember your dad's smile most of all. Behind that smile was a lot of kindness. I also remember fondly the time he and Edith were able to display some of their nativity collection during the holidays. He was so proud of them and happy to share stories about his travels.

Mrs Summers and Family,

Mrs. Summers and family,

our condolences. His illness and now passing is a great schock to us. As a colleague and my personal physician, he was always kind, thoughtful, considerate and compassionate. He was a great mentor to me.

He will be greatly missed by Vera Loening-Baucke and Stefan Loening

Bob was a wonderful mentor, colleague and friend. While he was nationally well known with great expertise and experience, he practiced medicine one patient at a time, listening carefully to his patients' stories, attentive, concerned, caring. He was humble gentle and kind. He was a master clinician, loved his patients and went to extraordinary lengths to assure they got the best of care. He showed us how to live an extraordinary life. We are all the better for having known him and will miss him greatly.

When I first met Bob in 1963 or 64, I was a Fellow in Gastroenterology (the first) and he was a medical student, having been associated with the gastroenterologists here for some years before that as a research technician. We remained close friends and colleagues ever after, sharing more than I can say in our profession, in teaching, research and patient care, and in a close personal friendship. During the whole of my tenure as Division Director, I relied on him to take countless responsibilities that enabled the Division to grow from the brotherhood of five that existed in 1970 when the Division was formally organized, to a solid unit with an international reputation when I relinquished the Directorship in 1986. The brotherhood stayed intact throughout. He was the perfect colleague and perfect friend to all of us. He shaped the lives of all of us, his colleagues in academic gastroenterology, as well as in the lives of the dozens of Fellows he helped in the subspecialty training program that began in 1963 and continues to this day. One discovers men of such intelligence, loyalty and principle only very rarely. We who were fortunate enough to encounter such a man in him will cherish his memory forever.

I am sorry to hear about the passing of your loved one. I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Summers while he was phasing into retirement. He was a great teacher and taught me about inflammatory bowel disease and polyps. This may not mean much to a lot of people, but it does to all of us in the GI world. His legacy will live forever. May he rest in peace.

What a kind and compassionate gentleman and physician you have lost. The world will miss him. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Mrs. Summers and family,

I just found out about Dr. Summer's passing and I wanted to reach out and offer you our condolences. You knew him as a husband, father and a grandfather, I knew him as a healer. He helped diagnose me back in the '80's when few in the medical community knew what this disease was - he did. He wasn't my primary doctor, but he was my doctor's mentor, but he always remembered me. He brought so much to the table, compassion with passion was his calling card. The medical community lost a true resource, but our loss can't compare with yours. Please know that every hour he took from his family to tend to patients was our gift for your sacrifice. Thank you for allowing him to be the wonderful, caring physician he was. God bless you and him.

Dear Edith and Family,

We were so sorry to hear of Bob's passing. He was a dear friend and colleague of my husband Carl Gisolfi. They did great research and had fun and admiration for each other. You may remember coming to our home to celebrate Carl's 55th birthday. He passed away two years later.

Bob lived his life with integrity and a smile and I will always be grateful to him for his devotion to our family medically and his friendship with my husband.

May peace be with you and your family.

Louise Gisolfi

Mrs. Summers and family, you have my deepest sympathy. I had the privilege of working with Dr. Summers for many years and his dedication to helping his patients was always evident. He proved every day that one can be the consummate professional and care about others at the same time. He never sacrificed one for the other. He was always a gentleman and a gentle soul. So many benefited from having him in their lives. You are in my prayers.

Dr. Summers was a great friend and mentor to my husband, Mark Kedzior. His passing is a great shock to us all, however we will continue to speak and think of him with much affection.

What a gift to the medical world and to humanity. I had the priviledge of working with Dr. Summers for 11 1/2 years . He was always kind, thoughtful and considerate and a calming influence even in stressful situations. His skiil and knowledge as a practioner will always be remembered, by his patients and those he worked with. He chose to invest his life in not only his patients but also his family and has left a legacy for years to come.

Dr. Summers and Dr. Clifton cared for me in the '60s. My husband and I brought a nativity from Tallinn, Estonia for the collection. A truly extraordinary man.

Doctor Robert Summers was a doctor's doctor in many ways. His outgoing spirit, his diligence to detail, his work habits- these characters and more made him an effective physician. Doctor Summer will be missed by his patients, peers and friends. Tom Barloon, MD

To the dear family of Dr Bob Summers. (He always told me to call him "Bob";-)

Dr. Summers was a truly great person. He became my doctor in 1977. I am thankful for his talent and compassion.. My best thoughts to the family.

Blessing and good thoughts for him.

Dr. Summers, was a very special caring, and expert health care professional and a great colleague.He will be greatly missed but always fondly remembered.

Dr Summers was a wonderful man. I was his patient for many years. He literally saved my life. I was very sick and close to death when I first became his patient. With his help, patience, and understanding, I became as healthy as one can be with Crohns Disease. I was his patient until he retired. I respected him immensely and thought of him as a friend. My deepest sympathy to his family. I know you all will miss him and I will too.

Ron and Helen Popham

To the family of Dr. Summers I express my sincerest sympathy. I was a patient of Dr. Summers for a very long time and was under his care until he had retired. He was simply the best and I was very fortunate to have been under his care. Words cannot describe what he meant to me and how he impacted my life. Please take comfort in knowing he helped so many people and he made this world such a better place in all areas of life he touched. I will miss seeing him at Iowa basketball games and even though he had retired, I am feeling a void in my care because he is no longer here. Again, you have my deepest sympathy, he was a remarkable man.

Doug Cahoon

I just found out Dr. Summers' passing. My heart is filled with sorrow. I have known Dr. Summers since my fellowship. He embodied the best qualities of a physician. Caring, knowledgeable, responsible, a true scientist to the heart. Despite his monumental contributions to the gastroenterology, he was so humble, so human, so approachable. Like a grandpa figure. Always with a smile on his face, even when he was distressed. We lost a man of science and grace. His legacy will continue. Rest in peace!!

I met Dr. Summers when I took his recent class in Senior College. He was delightful. I know he will be missed.

Bob was one of the really good guys. The best. A mensch. We count ourselves so lucky to have become friends with him and Edith, after they first welcomed us to Iowa so many years ago. He was alwas kind, consderate, thoughtful. He was also wise. We shall all miss him so much, and the good feeling it was to be around him. Our thoughts and condolances go out to Edith Rebecca Joe and all of his family. We can't imagine how hard it must be for all of you.

So very sad to hear of Bob's death. He was a wonderful physician and friend, and will be missed by all who knew him.

Bob and Kathy Cook, Riverside, IA.

Bob was and will be my professional father figure. He combined passion and compassion in a way that advanced medicine and maximized benefit to his patients. He truly was what we now call a CARE provider. My wife Susan and I always enjoyed meeting Bob and Edith during conferences after we had left Iowa City. We all lost a great physician, scientist and, most importantly, a great human being. He will be sorely missed.

What a treasure Bob gave to us with his organization of the reunion this past summer. He was a gracious, thoughtful and kind man and we will forever have the memory of the reunion as a tribute to him. Mike and Shari

As neighbors, we will miss Bob greatly. He had a genuine warmth and wisdom. As a physician, he was one of the last of the true diagnosticians. He was also a gifted researcher. He will truly be missed.

Those attending the family reunion will have lasting

memories of Robert. The gracefulness with which he

was able to conduct the reunion and the attention given

to each family member was incredible in spite of his illness.

That weekend will always be remembered--what a wonderful

gift he left to each of us.

Our heartfelt sympathy to each one.

Jim and Barb

We are so saddened to learn of Bob's death. He was loved by everyone who knew him, and his loss is felt by many. Prayers and thoughts to Edith and her family.