John Sommers received his undergraduate degree in psychology at Albion College. In the late 60s, as a Printer Fellow, he trained at the Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles. In 1970, he moved with the Tamarind Lithography Workshop to Albuquerque as its Studio Manager and Master Printer in charge of the Printer Training Program. From 1975-1983 Sommers was the Technical Director of Tamarind Institute.
In 1975, Sommers also took on another commitment as Lecturer in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of New Mexico, which continued until his death.
(This is an edited version of the Memorial Minute written by Harry Nadler, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Art and Art History at the University of New Mexico, Feb. 9, 1988)