Dr. William P. "Bill" Sommers

Dr. William "Bill" P. Sommers 73, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, died Sunday, January 7, 2007 at his home. A native of Michigan, he and his wife Josephine Sommers, made Jacksonville home since 1998. Dr. Sommers' business career spanned more than 40 years, including a 29-year tenure at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, a top global management consulting firm. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Sommers joined SRI International (formerly Stanford Research Institute), one of the world's largest not-for-profit research, development, and consulting organizations as its president and CEO. Before joining SRI, Dr. Sommers served as executive vice president of Lameter, Inc., a health care cost containment and quality improvement. Throughout his career, he has served on numerous corporate and scientific advisory boards. Dr. Sommers held a BS, MSE and PhD in engineering and aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan. Throughout his career, Dr. Sommers had a deep appreciation for the importance of a technological education. He actively encouraged young students to pursue science careers and was honored by his alma mater for his leadership in raising scholarship and endowment funds. He is survived by his wife Josephine; his sister Peggy Topp; his daughter Clare Sommers; his son William Sommers, his step-daughter Joanna Weems; his step-sons John Hughes and Russell Hughes and seven grandchildren, Britten, Lee, Maddie and Jack Hughes and Caitlin, Brad and Josie Weems. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00pm, Thursday, January 11th at Our Lady Star of the Sea with Reverend Daniel De Pascale as Celebrant. Memorials may be made in Dr. Sommers honor to The National Parkinson Foundation. Arrangements by Quinn-Shalz, A Family Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, FL.