Donald A. Bosshart

Donald A. Bosshart, a long-time resident of Kent, passed away unexpectedly November 8, 2020 from heart failure. 

Don was born in Orange, New Jersey on January 25, 1944.  He was the son of Robert and Naoma Bosshart.  The family later settled in Wilmette, Illinois where he graduated from New Trier High School.  Upon graduating from Hanover College in Indiana, he completed Masters and Doctoral degrees in Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois, Champaign – Urbana with emphasis on statistics and measurement & design.  In 1968, he married Clara, nee Sturies, Bosshart, a fellow graduate student.

In 1970, Don accepted a teaching position at Virginia Intermont College. There the Bossharts rented a house on a cattle farm in eastern Virginia, a beautiful mountainous area.  Don changed his orientation to medical education and accepted a job at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas in 1972.  As the Assistant Director of Medical Education he was one of four other educators who developed the idea of simulated patients and spearheaded the use of video technology to teach and evaluate medical students to improve clinical skills and improve sensitivity to diverse cultures of patients.    

In Galveston, the Bossharts, who were passionate about history and antiques, purchased 1323 Church Street, in the East End Neighborhood, a National Historic Landmark district.  He did extensive research to individually list the house on the National Register of Historic Places.  Later Don had the 1884 house, designed by architect Nicholas Clayton, designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and a Local Landmark.  Don was a founding member of the East End Historical District Association, serving as vice president and president.  After five years, the Bossharts moved to Kent, Ohio, when he accepted a position at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (today NEOMED). However, he continued to own property in Galveston and it would remain his favorite place to visit. 

At NEOUCOM, he was full-time faculty member and administrator where he played key roles in evaluating medical student curriculum. He developed assessment tools for medical student and resident performance as well as faculty teaching skills.  In 1992, he established a private consulting business, the National Center for Evaluation of Residency Programs.  NCERP was the first national firm to evaluate residency programs and to host conferences throughout the country for residency coordinators of different disciplines.  He was most proud of his work at the NCERP. 

Don volunteered his time to several mental health organizations.  He was a Trustee of the Board of Portage Path Behavioral Health from 1986 to 2018, Chairman from 1998 – 2001.  He served as a Trustee of the Board of Northeast Ohio Psychiatric Institute from 1987 to 2018, Chairman from 2008 – 2012.  He also was a founding member and leader of the William McKinley Mental Health Society, 1989 – 2007. In addition, he served on the board of the regional Alzheimer’s Association, a disease from which he would later suffer.

Don is survived by his wife of 52 years, Clara, and his daughter Samantha Bosshart.  Samantha resides in Saratoga Springs, New York where she is the Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.  Her father is responsible for introducing her to her passion of historic preservation.  Don is also survived by his brother, Perry Bosshart (Madeleine) and his nephews, Robert Bosshart and his son Jack and Ed Bosshart (Gena), and their twins Abigail, and Gwendolyn.  Don was most well-known for his dry sense of humor.  He loved to make people laugh.  He will be greatly missed. 

Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at Standing Rock Cemetery, 1361 N. Mantua Street, Kent, Ohio 44240. Cremation in the care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in memory of Don to Alzheimer’s Association, Portage Path Behavioral Health, or Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. 

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