Edwin Goldberg

Edwin E. Goldberg, M. D.

Bonita Springs, FL

Dr. Edwin E. Goldberg, 85, passed away on April 25, 2009 in Bonita Springs with his loving wife, Jeanne by his side. He was born on May 31, 1923 to Hyman and Cecilia Luft Goldberg and is survived by Jeanne; his fatherin-law, Ben Bullock II of Naples; his brother-in-law, Ben Bullock III (Connie) of Cambridge Springs PA; and nephews, Brian Bullock (Tracey), Neil Bullock (Laura); and niece Erin Smith (Bill).

Dr. Goldberg (affectionately known as "Dr. Ed") obtained his M. D. degree in 1949 and subsequently completed internal medicine residencies at North Cambridgeshire Hospital in Cambridge, England and at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL, where he served as the chief medical resident. He then joined the Air Force, holding the rank as captain, and he served for two years as the Chief of Medical Service for the 6604th USAF Hospital at Pepperrell Air Force Base in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

After his military service, he moved to Decatur, IL and practiced internal medicine there until 1986. During his years in Decatur, Dr. Ed received an appointment as a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. He enjoyed teaching the medical students and visited the UIUC campus regularly to lecture on various medical topics. His quick wit, personal warmth and charm, and his willingness to share his extensive medical knowledge made him a favorite among the students.

During this period, Dr. Ed was appointed Vice President of Medical and Environmental Affairs at the A. E. Staley Mfg. Company (now Tate & Lyle). He was known as an executive who was equally comfortable in the boardroom or in the manufacturing plant and was an active member of the American College of Physician Executives, the American College of Occupational Medicine, the American Academy of Health Administration and the American Nuclear Society. His appointment to the Illinois Governor's Council for Health and Physical Fitness gave him the opportunity to become involved in many health care issues at the legislative level.

Dr. Ed married Dr. Jeanne Ellen Bullock in 1979, and they moved to Bonita Springs in 1986. They shared many common interests, including fishing, running, planting tropical fruit trees, and traveling. They planted over 100 trees at their home, and Dr. Ed gained a reputation as an expert in the propagation and cultivation of tropical fruit trees, citrus, avocados, and hot chile peppers. Both Dr. Ed and Jeanne served as Master Gardeners, working as volunteers at the Collier County Extension Office. Dr. Ed served as the president of the Southwest Florida Rare Fruit Growers Exchange during the late 1980s. Many of his articles on horticultural topics were featured in various publications. One of his greatest pleasures in life was to graft a special tree to share with friends, and he liked to refer to the following quotation: "He who planteth a tree is a servant of God. He provideth a kindness for many generations, and faces he hath not seen will Bless him."

Dr. Ed and Jeanne enjoyed the company of a wide circle of dear and devoted friends after their move to Florida, and they also found great satisfaction in traveling to Europe, Asia, Central and South America. Dr. Ed was fascinated by the tropics, and one of the highlights of his life was a trip down the Amazon River with Jeanne in the late 1990s. He and Jeanne especially enjoyed Pacific Ocean fishing ranging from Vancouver Island to southern Chile. During their travels, Dr. Ed and Jeanne performed medical mission work in Honduras and in Venezuela and were honored by the government of Honduras for their medical assistance to Honduras following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.

Dr. Ed also served on the Collier County and State of Florida boards of directors of the American Cancer Society in the areas of public issues and governmental affairs.

Drs. Ed and Jeanne supported the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Medicine and endowed three separate professorial chairs in their names and in the names of Jeanne's parents in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and the school of Integrative Biology. They received the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Dean's Quadrangle Award in 2001, served as members of the President's Council at UIUC, and were invited to speak at the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology Retreats in Illinois on two occasions.

Dr. Ed was a man of many talents and will be missed for his kindness, spirit, vitality, intelligence, wit and charm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The American Cancer Society, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, The National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, St. Matthew's House, and Joanne's House at Hope Hospice.

A private memorial service will be held.

Naples Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery

239-597-3101