Dr. Robert Derry Vandermeer

Dr. Robert Vandermeer, devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and renowned orthopedic surgeon, pioneered arthroscopy in North Texas as senior partner and President Emeritus at the W. B. Carrell Memorial Clinic, a role from which he retired in 2009. Dr. Vandermeer was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on February 1, 1933 to Dirk J. Vandermeer and Mary Derry Vandermeer and was the elder of their two sons. He passed away peacefully on March 27, 2018.

In 1942, as a 9-year old, Dr. Vandermeer became the first patient in Canada to receive penicillin after nearly succumbing to a staph infection at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto. He moved to Dallas with his family in 1949, graduated from Highland Park High School in 1951, and matriculated to Southern Methodist University. He went on to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, earning election to Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and receiving his M.D. in 1958. Following his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, he joined the Carrell Clinic, where he took a special interest in sports-related injuries, arthroscopy, joint replacement, and reconstructive knee surgery. After mastering the use of the arthroscope in the early 1970s, he became one of its earliest experts and advocates in North Texas. As a charter member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association, he shared his expertise by writing and presenting numerous papers on arthroscopic surgery.

Dr. Vandermeer was widely respected in sports medicine for his expertise in the treatment of injuries to the knee, and after twenty-three years of serving as team physician for the Southern Methodist University football team was elected as an honorary member of the National Athletic Trainers Association. In 1984, then-general manager Tex Schramm asked Dr. Vandermeer to become team physician of the Dallas Cowboys Football Club, a post from which he retired in 2000 after winning three Super Bowl titles. As team physician, he operated on numerous NFL Hall of Fame players as well as many other prominent athletes. But most importantly, he cherished the relationships he developed with his patients, many of whom wrote to him years after their operations to thank him for the often dramatic improvements to their quality of life that resulted from his care. He was a gentleman always: humble, kind, and compassionate.

Dr. Vandermeer had an enduring philanthropic interest in the management of juvenile diabetes, devoting time and talent since 1956 to Camp Sweeney in Gainesville, Texas, a summer camp dedicated to the education, fellowship, and development of children with Type I diabetes. For the rest of his career, he dedicated a portion of every summer to volunteering as resident physician and inspired his four children in their love of and continued involvement with Camp Sweeney as well. He spent more than forty years on the Southwestern Diabetic Foundation Medical and Executive Boards, roles through which he helped safeguard the future of Camp Sweeney and the children it serves. In the community, Dr. Vandermeer was a sixty-nine-year member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, where he regularly attended services and served as an usher. Other professional memberships include the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Dallas County Medical Society. Dr. Vandermeer will also be remembered for his legacy of outdoor sportsmanship. Through many early morning duck hunts and hot Texas summer afternoons bass fishing he shared with his sons, David and John, their friends and his grandsons, not only a love of these sports but a deep appreciation for nature and creation.

Dr. Vandermeer leaves behind his loving wife Karen, with whom he shared thirty-four years of marriage. Their common passion for exploring the world took them often to Maui, Colorado, Europe, and the California Coast. They also spent many weekends at their lake house enjoying relaxing time together with their son Jake and other friends and family members. He is also survived by his son David, his wife Molly, and their three sons Matthew, Jack, and Will; his son John, his wife Wendy, and their three children Emily, Marshall, and Hannah; his daughter Diane Skaleski, her husband Jeff, and their daughter Anna, who live in Chicago; his son Jake who lives in New York City; his brother Jim and wife Judy; his niece Amy Allen, who lives in Boone, North Carolina; and his niece Catherine Thomas, her husband Bruce, and their children Sam, Charlie, Graham, and Jack. The family is especially grateful for Harriet Elolo who helped care for “Dr. V” with so much love and respect.

A Memorial Service is planned for April 6th, 2018 at 3:00 pm in the sanctuary of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, 3821 University Blvd. There will be a reception in Elliott Hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Southwestern Diabetic Foundation (Camp Sweeney) at 201 W California St, Gainesville, TX 76240.