Edward Eugene "Gene" Page Jr.

PAGE Edward Eugene “Gene” Page Jr., well loved and well respected cardiologist in the Jacksonville Community, most recently with Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, passed away Monday, June 25, 2007, at home surrounded by family after a brave fight with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 45 years Patricia Doepke Page; son Edward Eugene Page III, of Charleston, South Carolina (wife Olga and their children, Joey and Kinsey); and son Frederick Dyer Page, of Jacksonville, Florida (wife Lisa and their children Sarah and Henry). Gene's sister- in-law Noel Doepke Liles and her husband Rutledge Liles; nieces Ashley Liles Jones (Andrew); Hillary Liles Almond (Eric); Stacey Liles Corn (Zach); brother-in-law Rick Doepke and nephews Eric and Drake Doepke; and many loving great nieces and nephews also survive him. Gene was born July 13, 1939, in Tallahassee, the only child of Dorothy Dyer Page and Edward Eugene Page. He graduated from Leon High School as Valedictorian in 1957. He excelled in football and track in high school and was an All-American halfback his senior year. He attended the University of Florida on a football scholarship from 1957 to 1961, and always remained an avid Gator fan. Gene was a member of Blue Key, President of Sigma Chi Fraternity, a Rhodes Scholar Finalist, lettered in football and track, and was an Academic All-American. Gene's passion for athletics was matched by his interest in following his grandfather's footsteps as a physician. Gene was fortunate to attend medical school at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he also continued to complete his medicine residency and cardiology fellowship. In 1965, he was commissioned in the U.S. Public Health Service, later stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, and was honorably discharged in 1969. In 1971, he came to Jacksonville, Florida where he joined Drs. Gordon H. Ira, Sr. and Jr. in private practice and served as Chief of Cardiology for St. Luke's Hospital for more than 20 years. In 1996, Gene joined the staff of Mayo Clinic Jacksonville where he continued to share his love of patients, commitment to excellence, insights as a teacher, and above all, his keen wit and sense of humor with coworkers and students. He received the Distinguished Mayo Clinician award for 2006 and was the first president of the staff. Gene shared his love and knowledge of medicine with all who crossed his path, and was thought of by many as a cowboy doctor for his old-school “country doc” style and prized cowboy boots. He approached medicine with a personal touch, and spent countless hours of his own time helping those in need, both by making house calls late at night and taking calls at all hours from friends and patients. He loved developing special bonds with those he helped, many of whom then became dear friends on a personal level. Gene was an avid hunter and enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his friends, sons and grandchildren. More than anything, Gene loved spending special times with his family, both as a father to his sons and “Pop Pop” to his four grandchildren. He was also a mentor to many young men and coached and umpired several generations of Little League Baseball and YMCA Football players. The Navy/Ortega/Lakeshore (NOL) Little League honored his 30-plus years of service to Little League Baseball by naming one of its fields “Page Field” and the Clubhouse, “The Dr. Gene Page Clubhouse.” Golf was another special challenge and love for Gene. He spent many hours of practice and play “looking for the secret” with his sons and dear friends. Gene also loved to read, write poetry, play the piano for his grandchildren, and travel with special friends. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2007, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 4129 Oxford Ave., Jacksonville, Florida, followed by a reception at Timuquana Country Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4114 Sunbeam Road, Suite 101, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224. Arrangements under the care of Hardage Giddens Edgewood Chapel at 729 South Edgewood Avenue. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com