Dr. Daniel Earl Polter's Obituary
Dr. Daniel Earl Polter, 87, son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend and respected member of the Dallas medical community, passed away peacefully at home on September 26, 2021 surrounded by family.
Dan was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 17, 1933, the third child of Joseph Polter, an immigrant from Austria and Gertrude Hetzel of Dayton, Ohio. In 1944 the family moved to Norman, Oklahoma where they lived until moving to Dallas in 1946. Dan graduated from Sunset High School and then attended the University of Texas in Austin where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. While at the University of Texas he joined the Tejas Club where he developed many lifelong friends. He attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, graduating in 1959 and was a member of the AOA Honorary Medical Society, Then he completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital before serving two years in the medical Corps of the US Army, stationed in Orleans, France. Upon returning to the US, the family moved to Los Angeles where Dan completed a fellowship in Gastroenterology at Wadsworth VA Medical Center. In 1966 the family resettled in Dallas, Texas. Once back in Dallas Dan established the Gastroenterology (GI) lab and program at the VA Hospital before entering private practice.
In 1971 he set up a GI Lab and program at Baylor University Medical Center where he was the Chief until 2003. During his years at Baylor he spearheaded the inception of Baylor’s liver transplant program and held the position of Chairman of the transplant selection committee from 1985-1992, he served as President, BUMC Staff, 1990-1991, and Chairman of Medical Board, BUMC 1991-1992. He was a founding member of Digestive Health Associates of Texas (DHAT), which became one of the largest gastroenterology practices in the country. Dan was President, Texas Society for Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, 1998-2000. During his years in practice he served on many local, state, and national medical committees and boards. In 1996 Dan received the Distinguished Clinician Award from the American Gastroenterological Association. In 2010 Dan received the Project Access Dallas Volunteer Physician of the Year Award for volunteering and community service. He was a longtime supporter and board member of the Visiting Nurse Association and delivered Meals on Wheels with his wife Lucy and an occasional grandchild.
While medicine was unquestionably one of Dan’s passions in life his energy and curiosity extended far beyond the hospital. He loved traveling the world with his wife Lucy. In their 64 years of marriage they visited all seven continents; though, of all the travel Dan did, his most
favorite trips were those he and Lucy took with each of their grandchildren. A consummate learner, Dan enjoyed reading (particularly history), and attending the Tate Lecture Series events at SMU. Dan also enjoyed tennis, gardening, snow skiing and especially running. He was a member of the Baylor GI department White Rock Marathon relay team, the “GI Runs”, (yes, he was funny , too). Dan made an annual ski trip with a group of friends who called themselves “The Screaming Eagles.” In addition to his own athletic endeavors, he spent hours on the tennis court each summer fielding balls and manning the ball machine for his five grandchildren. He and Lucy have also been enduring supporters of the arts in Dallas, especially the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO).
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Ezra Polter and son, David Polter. He is survived by his wife, Lucy Polter, son, Adam Polter of Carrollton, TX, daughter, Marie McDermott (Harry) of Tucson, AZ, daughter in law, Robbin Polter of Austin, TX, sisters Kay Mudd and Margaret Potteiger and his grandchildren Katie McDermott, Danny McDermott, Megan McDermott, and Mariel Polter. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 13, at 12 noon at the First United Methodist Church of Dallas at Ross and Harwood Streets. If you would like to honor Dan, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Meals on Wheels.
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