Stephen Embree Barnett

Stephen was born July 25, 1941, in Indianapolis to Mary John Embree Barnett and William Edwin Barnett, M.D. His family moved to Dallas after World War II and Stephen later returned to Indiana where he graduated from DePauw University in 1962. Following his graduation from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Stephen interned at Parkland Memorial Hospital followed by pediatric residencies and fellowships at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the University of Colorado Medical Center and Health Science Center. He also received a Master's in Comprehensive Health Planning and Administration from UCHSC.

In 1968 in Washington, D.C., Stephen met Susan Roberts. Their paths would be deeply intertwined for the rest of their lives. Their love story began a new chapter when they married in Denver in 1989. During their married life, Stephen and Susan traveled extensively and had wonderful adventures all over the world. They regularly visited Puerto Vallarta, their favorite place for extended R&R and spent many holidays there with family and friends for more than 30 years.

At home, Stephen was the accomplished executive chef who delighted in preparing special dishes for anniversaries and Susan's birthdays. He doted on family pets, showering them with love and affection.

Dr. Barnett was a visionary. For more than 40 years as a pediatrician, he was an advocate for children's health and school-based primary care. He worked tirelessly for public health promotion and intervention at the community level and fought fiercely for funding and programs to enable children from diverse backgrounds to grow up healthy and whole. Dr. Barnett's outstanding career included his devotion to advocating and promoting the valuable role public school systems play as a principal foundation for our nation's preventive health efforts and to better integrate schools and medical care for that purpose.

Dr. Barnett set up model school health programs for migrant children in Colorado and school-based clinics for underserved communities in Texas. He also chaired school health committees in medical societies.

As Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Health Science Center Departments of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Barnett served as director of the Student Health Program for Migrant Farm Workers and Rural Poor. While Director of Pediatric Groups Practices, he organized a multi-discipline healthcare team to deliver total patient care. An innovative program at the time, the nation's health care system is now shifting into a similar organizational pattern. The Aspen (Colorado) Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic was his private practice for ten years before he and Susan married and moved to Galveston, Texas in 1989.

In his role as Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, from 1989-97, Dr. Barnett directed the School Health and Community Pediatrics Division of the Department of Pediatrics.

After Stephen and Susan moved to Austin in 1997, he served as Medical Director in the Department of Primary Care for the Austin/Travis County Department of Human Resources.

In Austin, Stephen found a new strength and passion: He embraced the tenets of Alcoholics Anonymous and began a brave and spiritual journey, which enriched Stephen's life and the lives of all who love him.

Dr. Barnett's many awards include Distinguished Service Award, American School Health Association; One in a Million Award, Texas Association of School-Based Health Care; and the first award for Outstanding Contribution to Migrant Farm Worker Families by Colorado Migrant Council.

Stephen loved the outdoors, where his well-known and beloved grin was a delight to see. His hiking boots, bicycle, fishing rods and convertible were in regular and frequent use, whether at home in Austin or traveling for work or pleasure. For many years, he participated in the MS 150 bike ride between Houston and Austin in support of funding research for multiple sclerosis. He did this in honor of his sister, Sarah. Stephen also loved classical music, and it was his constant companion while driving down the road.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Susan Roberts; his sister, Sarah Barnett Moore and her husband William T. Moore. M.D.; his nephew John Thomas Embree Moore; and many extended family members and friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 15 at 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Tarrytown Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, Stephen asked that remembrances be made to Texans Care for Children, www.txchildren.org.