Tribute: Jeri L. Dobbs: 1935-2015.

Jeri Dobbs was an early pioneer in our field who served with distinction his entire career. One wonders why he was so involved?—probably, initially out of a sense of doing his share in promoting our fledgling profession and then surely as a committed volunteer for other activities as his demonstrated accomplishments manifested. For him, and many of that era, performing well clinically was not enough—Jeri chose to give back to the profession as the tributes below attest. In his life-long commitment to perfusion education he served as a role model for younger generations who entered the field in the 1970s and 1980s. Jeri received the inaugural American Society of Extracorporeal Technology (AmSECT) Award of Excellence in 1976, an award given to a perfusionist who demonstrates excellence and best exemplifies creativity and intellectual honesty in their endeavors. Jeri’s creativity and intellectual honesty extended far beyond 1976. His efforts were continuous, consequential, and a positive influence when deliberations that affected the course of our profession were being considered. We pay tribute to this exemplary man.