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Stewart Metz Obituary
Stewart Metz, M.D., age 70, died on September 15, 2017 after a long battle with cancer. Born in New York City, he trained at Yale (Scholar of the House & summa cum laude) & Yale Medical School, and was tenured Professor of Medicine at University of Colorado and University of Wisconsin respectively. He was Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism, and Head of the Diabetes Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Stewart returned to Seattle in the '90s to join some of his former UW colleagues at the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute. In his 30+ year medical career, Dr. Metz was an accomplished researcher with extensive publications, authoring 120+ scientific publications & serving as a clinician, biomedical researcher, administrator & teacher.
Stewart was always a world traveler - but a trip to Indonesia in 2001 changed his life completely. After witnessing wild Indonesian cockatoo trapping & the poverty of those in the trade, his passion to protect & conserve Indonesian cockatoos was ignited. He ultimately left the medical profession & used his research skills in support of preservation of wild parrots by forming a non-profit. In 2002, he became Director of the Indonesian Parrot Project (IPP). This became his passion & his life legacy.
Stewart knew that poverty-stricken villagers in parrot-rich areas would keep trapping birds for sale. In 2004, he co-founded a rescue, rehabilitation & release facility on Seram Island to help parrots confiscated from the illegal trade to return to the wild. In 2008, he rediscovered a cockatoo that was thought to have gone extinct - the Abbotti cockatoo.
Stewart was also a musician & a member of The Original Sinners and performed as a soloist at Seattle's Bumbershoot festival.
Stewart is survived by sister Arlene Moretz, mother Shirlee (Lovey) Metz, niece Michaele Moretz Sosinski and her husband Ben Sosinski, & grand-nephews Joe and Cole. He will be missed by his friends Dr. Hank Kaplan, Len Johnson, Nate and Betsy Lott, Bonnie Zimmermann & Stephanie Allen as well as countless others in the medical & wild bird conservation communities.
The Indonesian Parrot Project has established the Stewart Metz Memorial Fund for the Seram avian rescue center. To donate, please visit http://indonesian-parrot-project.org/
Please sign Stewart's online Guestbook at www.Legacy.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Stewart Metz
Sponsored by The Family.
Kathryn Kleckner
September 30, 2023
I can no longer see a parrakeet nor a parrot without thinking of Stewart.
Every time one of my relatives turns diabetic, I think of Stewart.
It has been so long since he's been gone but I think fondly on the years that I got to work with him. Thank you to his family.
Kathryn Kleckner
September 28, 2022
Stewart was a favorite colleague of mine where I served him by doing illustrations he needed to publish his research findings. He was immensely personable and thoughtful, respectful and respected, and presented a very good alternative to Dr. Gdfriend when it came to promoting Veterans Health research. Miss him dearly; I admired his constant ability to look beyond himself and work for the better good of people and parrots.
Kathryn Kleckner
November 11, 2021
I just learned of Dr. Metz' passing. He was an incredible researcher in VA Hospital in Madison, WI who I had the great pleasure to do drawings to illustrate his research manuscripts and create slides for his medical lectures. An incredible thinker and compassionate individual.
Bill Wasserman
September 25, 2020
Others have stepped forward to continue your work...but you can never be replaced. Rest in peace.
Mark Bell
April 8, 2020
So sorry to read about the passing of Stewart. In 2006 he placed a plaque for us in memory of our beloved Umbrella Cockatoo, Morag on an enclosure.
Sadly, I never met him but he was obviously a wonderful and caring human being. Mark
September 15, 2018
With my sincere sympathy to your family; May your treasured memories continue to provide a measure of comfort and peace to the family. Please be strengthened from (Isaiah 61:1,2) our God "binds up the broken-hearted and comforts all who mourn"
John Turk
January 11, 2018
Good bye, Stewart. I just learned of your passing and was sorry to do so. I admired your work and was glad to be a friend. I imagine that your scientific work and that your devotion to parrots will long endure.
Debby Langston
October 26, 2017
There was a special place in heaven for you Stewart. I bet you are surrounded by the beautiful parrots that you worked to save. You were Truly a great humanitarian. We in the Bird World are just finding out about our loss of you.
Ipo
Betsy Lott
October 18, 2017
I will forever miss you Stewart. You have been one of the most dearest friends I've ever had in my life. Your work with the cockatoos in Indonesia is inspirational. RIP my dear dear friend.
South Bay Bird Society
October 16, 2017
Dear Stewart - Your work was done with grace and love! Your soul is now free to fly! Our tears of joy run down our cheeks with respect and love. Your are missed! From all your friends at South Bay Bird Society - Thank you!
Nancy Haylett
October 15, 2017
Stewart's life was inspiring. I will never forget him.
Nancy Haylett
Seattle
Pat Hill
October 4, 2017
RIP Stewart. We will miss you. Your contribution to the avain community is an inspiration to us all.
CaroleSue Hess
October 1, 2017
The world has lost a great and compassionate man. His legacy and memory will live on forever, in the bird world, and in the hearts of those he inspired. I am grief stricken over losing a fascinating friend and hero.
Nina Cooper
October 1, 2017
The world has lost a true humanitarian. His words and actions touched me deeply. He will be missed around the world.
October 1, 2017
Stew has been a wonderful friend ever since we used to hang out together in medical school and act crazy as loons. We've kept in regular contact ever since. I wish I could have seen him more often. I'll miss him very much.
Jeff Menkes, MD
Sue Marshall
October 1, 2017
Thank you for your dedication, kindness and gentle reminders that we need to be better. You touched the hearts of many, I am one. You will be missed.
Stephanie Allen
October 1, 2017
I will miss your integrity, dedication & loyalty S'too. You were the BEST man I've ever known.
Bill Wasserman
October 1, 2017
The work you began with the Cockatoos of Indonesia will be continued by those you taught and inspired. Your role will be taken over...but you will never be replaced.
The light you brought to dark places will shine on in the hearts and minds of those who follow in your footsteps.
Susan Ferguson
October 1, 2017
Thank you for all your hard work both in medicine and with birds. You helped provide a great trip for me to INDONESIA in 2006 and will always have those memories. You were like a little kid in a toy store when you were with the birds in Indonesia. Now you know bird secrets of the world. Well done good and faithful servant
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