Steven M. Lewis

Dr. Steven M. Lewis, dedicated physician, cherished husband, and loving and supportive father, passed away on July 3, 2024 at the age of 73 after a two year battle with appendiceal cancer. He is survived by his wife Barbara; siblings Bill, Susan, and Cathy; children Erica (Lewis) Battaglia, Katie (Lewis) Underwood, and Noah Lewis; and six admiring grandchildren, Olive, Will, Desmond, Georgia, Miles and Sydney.
Dr. Lewis was a caring, engaged and compassionate physician who specialized in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Geriatric Medicine. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a doctor. He realized that dream and tirelessly served his patients and his community for many years, driven by a deep desire to – quite simply – help people. Steven graduated with a BS in Zoology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1973, where he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He went on to earn his MD at the University of Illinois Medical Center in 1977, where he then continued to complete an internship and residency in Internal Medicine, concluding with a fellowship in Infectious Diseases in 1982. Dr. Lewis was triple board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and was later invited to help develop questions for the certification exam for Geriatric Medicine. He spent his childhood in Southern Illinois, where he was born in Carbondale in 1951. He delighted his family by sharing his many adventures growing up-from atypical household pets and boyhood poker games to zany experiences working at the family fish farm-so it is not surprising that he committed himself to honing the craft of storytelling upon his retirement in 2020, completing a full manuscript of a first novel shortly before his passing.
For nearly 40 years, Dr. Lewis served the Fox Valley community as a member of the medical staff of Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva and the Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center in Wheaton, as well as medical appointments at Central DuPage, Edward, and Hinsdale Hospitals. Dr. Lewis also contributed generously to hospital governance and administration through numerous appointments and committees, including serving as Vice President and President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of the Executive Committee at Delnor and Medical Director of The Michaelson Health Center in Batavia. Among his proudest achievements were working with his peers to establish the Performance Improvement and Board of Directors Quality Committees at Delnor that were designed to help support delivery of the highest quality healthcare. These contributions hopefully will benefit many others for years to come. Dr. Lewis also maintained an office practice for many years, where Barbara – a clinical microbiologist who had previously been his colleague at Central DuPage Hospital – worked alongside him as manager of the practice.
Dr. Lewis's professional drive was matched by his inquisitive spirit, love of the arts, his wry sense of humor, and grand appetite for culinary adventures. Steven and Barbara were staunch supporters of the performing arts, making the drive into Chicago too many times to count for plays, operas, jazz music and more. They took these occasions to experience the city's equally rich culinary scene, bringing their kids along to try their first ever escargots or spicy curry. Steve took great pleasure in teaching his children 'how to order' desserts – order all of them, if you can, so everyone can try a taste. Always eager to learn something new, Steven's joyfully long list of hobbies included travel, rose gardening, bicycling, birding, barbecuing, wine, playing the guitar, golfing, board games, cards, and writing. He was quick to share all these with those around him and was known by family and friends as a generous host who always welcomed everyone and kept spirits uplifted.
Dr. Lewis' family is grateful for the excellent care he received – from so many of his former colleagues – during his two-year battle with an aggressive and unyielding disease. Through the past few years, he remained optimistic, engaged, humorous and humble. Both Steve and Barbara were always appreciative of those who worked tirelessly and with great generosity and caring to make his life the best it could be.
For those who would like to commemorate Steve's legacy, in honor of his giving spirit his family invites you to please make a contribution to the cause nearest and dearest to your heart.
A Celebration of Life for Dr. Lewis will be held at Geneva Golf Club (831 South Street, Geneva, IL 60134) on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 4-7 PM.