Page created by: Eva and Sam

Edward F Steinmetz, 72, passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2015 as a result of Parkinson's Disease, which ironically was a focal point of his career. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Joe, his wife Marietta, and his son, Ben.

Edward was the first neurologist in Lee County and active in physician leadership roles such as multiple years as the chairman of Lee Memorial Hospital Credentials Committee and Department of Medicine; also serving as president of the Lee Memorial Hospital Medical Staff and numerous other task forces and committees. Ed was also outspoken on the establishment of a full service psychiatric hospital for the community, as well as the creation of a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation hospital and the first medical office building at Health Park Florida. However, he really focused on the needs of Parkinson's patients, including research, support groups, and access to the newest medications and cutting edge treatments; he also was the founding medical director for the Hope Parkinson's Program. After retirement Ed was inducted into the Lee Memorial Pioneer's of Medicine family.

The list of professional achievements Ed achieved is lengthy, but more importantly is the list of personal achievements. He leaves behind a daughter, Eva and a son, Sam who had a deep respect and love for him. Edward is also survived by his sister, Shirley and brother, John both of whom he cared about greatly and spoke of lovingly til the end. Ed was an avid angler and when not working or on-call chances are you could find him on the Gulf or Atlantic waters chasing his favorite denizen of the deep, the Yellowtail Snapper. Ed had quite a few fishing tournament trophies acquired over the years, but enjoyed fishing with buddy's for fun and/or dinner even more. There wasn't a day that went by which Ed didn't have fishing pictures within a few steps of wherever he was regardless of it being a hospital ward or a sub shop that he could quickly pull out to share his enthusiasm with everyone that would listen. Almost everyone that knew him had heard either a fishing story or his tale of being "lost at sea" while scuba diving. Ed was a generous human and had a habit of putting any and everybody ahead of himself, constantly making sure that everyone else was "A-OK". As I write this up and reflect back on the past I hope that one day I can accomplish a fraction of what my dad has done in his lifetime, I know for a fact he made a difference in the lives of a great number of people. May he have fair winds and following seas on his journey henceforth.