Today, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) joins the rest of the occupational therapy community in mourning the loss of the incredible innovator, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and AOTF honorary lifetime board member Fred Sammons, PhD (Hon), OT, FAOTA.
After serving in the Korean War, Fred Sammons earned his first occupational therapy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 1960, he joined the staff of the amputee clinic at Northwestern University. There, he used his passion for innovation to design and build devices that assisted individuals with disabilities in their everyday activities. As demand for his assistive devices grew, he founded his own company, Sammons Inc., to create, manufacture, and distribute his inventions. 60 years later, Sammons Inc. is now the multimillion-dollar Sammons Preston, an AbilityOne Company.
Sammons’ extensive contributions to the profession have earned him multiple accolades, including being named one of the “100 Most Influential People” in occupational therapy by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and receiving an honorary PhD in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University.
He continued to give back to the profession by funding a wide range of grants, scholarships, and donations, including endowing two AOTF state scholarships: the Fred Sammons and Barbara Rider Endowed Scholarship of the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association and the Fred Sammons Endowed Scholarship of the Virginia Occupational Therapy Association. In 2017, AOTF created the Fred Sammons Volunteer Recognition Award to recognize his dedication to serving the community.
Emphasizing Sammons’ kind nature and commitment to service, AOTF Chief Executive Officer Scott Campbell, PhD, said, “His laugh was infectious and spirit contagious. Seeing Fred and Barb at the AOTA Conference every year was always a highlight for me. Fred will be missed, but his legacy will live on at the Foundation and in the OT profession.” AOTF Chief Development Officer Lawrence Liff said, “I met Fred at the 2018 AOTA Conference, just a few months after I came on board. He was incredibly friendly and excited to help me understand the importance of our Foundation and its role in supporting occupational therapy. Without his generous philanthropy, AOTF would not be the organization we are today.”
Fred Sammons' spirit of generosity has driven the profession forward for nearly 70 years, and his legacy will continue to live through his commitment to supporting future generations of occupational therapy visionaries. We are endlessly grateful for his commitment to our organization and the profession. The AOTF extends our deepest condolences to the Sammons’ family, colleagues, and all who were touched by their remarkable life and work.
Read more about his inventive spirit and guiding light in OT in The Corry Journal.
For more information, please refer to the official obituary. https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/mi/kalamazoo/frederic-sammons-20606984