SOMMER, John D(aniel) 1929-

PERSONAL: Born January 19, 1929, in Peoria, IL; son of Daniel Phillip and Winifred (Baker) Sommer; married Nancy Wilson, December 22, 1950; children: Daniel, Melanie, John. Education: University of Illinois, B.S. 1951, M.A., 1955; University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1965. Politics: Independent. Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Boating, golf.

ADDRESSES: Home—8 Bull Run Dr., Oxford, OH 45056. E-mail—JNSommer@erinet.com.

CAREER: Miami University, Oxford, OH, professor of philosophy, 1962-90; Western College, Oxford, professor of philosophy, 1972-74; University of Maryland, professor of philosophy, 1976-77; Indiana University, Indianapolis and Richmond, professor of philosophy, 1975, 1994. Military service: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1952-54.

MEMBER: American Philosophical Association, Oxford Country Club.

WRITINGS:

Moments of Soul: An Inquiry into Personal Attraction, Peter Lang (New York, NY), 2000.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Rhythms of Thinking, for P. Lang, 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Educator John D. Sommer explained to CA that his writing is motivated by "the ideas of other thinkers," in particular the work of Richard McKeon. Regarding his writing process, Sommer begins with an "outline of problems followed by numerous revisions." A longtime professor of philosophy, he draws inspiration from "the greatest gifts to humanity: freedom, given by our ancestors; personal identity, given by family and friends; honor, given by our economy and its institutions; and faith, given by God."