To the community,

The Barton Health and South Lake Tahoe community have lost a special, irreplaceable friend. On June 27, Dan Kerr passed away. He was 76 years old.

Dan is probably best known as the Sacramento chairman of the blood drive. Dan donated more than 26 gallons of blood. Since 1981, he has coordinated blood drive efforts in South Lake Tahoe with the Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. The South Lake Tahoe Blood Drive still takes place every other month and, with Dan’s coordination, celebrated its 48th anniversary in June.

Dan Kerr

In 1985, Dan joined the Barton Auxiliary, the hospital’s active group of volunteers, when men first could participate as members. Dan’s spirit of volunteerism may have also sparked from his mother, Harriet Kerr, who, as a founding Auxiliary member, helped form the hospital in 1960.

Always in the giving spirit, Dan was willing to help whenever Auxiliary volunteers were needed. Dan served as the Hospital Auxiliary president in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2010. He represented the Barton Hospital Auxiliary with the California Association of Hospital & Health Systems.

Dan greeted patients for the wellness lab draws and actively stepped in for special events, including the annual holiday faire.

He also knew the secret recipe for cheeseballs, the Auxiliary’s holiday treat, and made hundreds to help raise funds for the hospital.

On behalf of the Auxiliary, we appreciate Dan’s commitment to Barton Auxiliary and for making a difference in our community.

Larry Coffman, Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary president