Eve Plews

1947 - 2018

Plews, Eve
Mar 15, 1947 - Sept 1, 2018
Eve Prang Plews passed away peacefully on September 1, 2018 with her adoring and devoted husband Dennis at her side. Her life spanned a dynamic, creative, compassionate 71 years in which she never stopped seeking knowledge, expertise, and new ways to serve others. Her mission lay in helping individuals improve their health and well being, and in that process, realize our common need to protect the health of the planet.
Eve was born in San Francisco on the Ides of March 1947. Soon after birth, she was adopted by WW II veteran Arthur Van Valkenberg and his wife Susan. The couple provided her with a flourishing Florida childhood and youth in Pinellas Park. Ever a "Florida gal," Eve loved the sunshine, the Gulf waters, as well as the birds, wildlife, and landscape of our state.
After graduating from high school, Eve entered the world of cosmetology and soon became a sought-after master hair stylist. Her expertise offered her the opportunity to teach others in the field as an international stage artist for Redken. During this part of her career, she honed public speaking skills that would serve her the rest of her working life as a subject matter expert, esteemed motivational speaker and, later, as a radio show host.
Eve became a student of health as a young woman in response to her own health problems. As she researched remedies for her own suffering, she realized the need for alternative approaches, and sought out the best information available on food, supplements, and exercise. Finding Linus Pauling's book on Vitamin C helped her improve her own health dramatically. Soon others sought her advice on ways to improve their own well being. She trained in medical botany at the University of Northern Arizona and mastered the medicinal values of plants. During the years she lived in the Southwest, she also studied herbalism with Navajo, Hopi and Havasuppi medicine women and men. In addition, she studied Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine as well as homeopathy. Her mentor in homeopathy was Dr. Luc Chaltin, the first homeopath to be admitted as a member of the advisory council on Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health.
A central focus of Eve's life was her continual quest for spiritual meaning. She described herself as someone who wanted to marry her understanding of metaphysics with an understanding of physics. Her incessant search took her to transforming mentors: Paige Bryant, Native American teacher Sun Bear, Barry Long, the works of Alice Bailey, encounters with many religious traditions, as well as the most compelling science she could find. Her husband Dennis was well suited to help her in this quest being a well-read amateur cosmologist himself.
All of her study, both formal and informal, led her to Sarasota to create Full Spectrum Health, a holistic clinic, whose aim is to help clients create optimal health of body, mind, and spirit. She practiced as a Nutrition Counselor licensed by the Florida Board of Medicine. For thirty years at Full Spectrum Health, Eve offered individual counseling in nutrition and life strategies. As the clinic evolved, Eve attempted to magnify her message of better health to a larger audience through radio. She was one of the founding programmers at WSLR, the local community radio station, airing her weekly program 'No Nonsense Nutrition" for ten years. Since November 2012, Eve has answered callers' questions live on the bi-weekly program "The Health and Nutrition Show" with Rob Lorei on WMNF, the regional community radio station in Tampa. The show was picked up by NPR Podcast last year.
Nationally and internationally, Eve radiated her message through seminars for physicians who want to incorporate holistic approaches in their practices. In 2013, she was one of the first clinicians to obtain her certification as a Functional Medicine Practitioner, taking her place with like-minded physicians, ARNP's, Chiropractors and nutritionists.
In addition to her work at Full Spectrum, Eve served HIV-infected individuals through an educational effort called "Healthy People With Aids," continually offering them strategies for longevity and quality of life. Teaching in the community was Eve's passion, and she eagerly accepted speaking engagements to educate fellow citizens with the message of personal well being as well as planetary health. She supported a variety of environmental groups, her most recent focusing on the United Nations "Clean Seas Project" to eliminate plastics in the oceans. She was also proud to earn her credential as "Master Gardener."
Truly a global citizen, Eve traveled widely her entire life, circling the globe at least once. She also ranged freely through the known universe as an accomplished amateur astronomer, inviting all takers to join her in exploring the night sky. Interested in every facet and form of this "juicy" experience we call life. Eve Prang Plews seized it all - the beauty, personal troubles, and political challenges of every given day. She then transformed the experiences into alchemist's gold, delivering the gifts of humor, pithy insight and graceful compassion to the rest of us.
A public Celebration of Eve's Life is scheduled for Friday, November 9th at 5pm at Selby Gardens in Sarasota.