STEPHEN PROM

PROM Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com Stephen George Prom, 58, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on May 26, 2013, following a year-long battle with cancer. He was born July 8, 1954, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Bonafay (Bonnie) M. Prom and Rev. George W. Prom. He was raised in Jacksonville and graduated from Englewood High School in 1972, the President of his Senior Class. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Florida, Phi Beta Kappa, with High Honors, and his J.D. degree from the University of Florida College of Law, also with High Honors, Phi Kappa Phi, Order of the Coif, and was his class Valedictorian. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1980. Steve devoted his legal career to Jacksonville. He started his practice with the Rogers Towers firm, and was associated with the Foley & Lardner firm before opening his own firm, Christian, Prom, Korn & Zehmer. Steve later joined the firm of Brant, Moore, Macdonald & Wells as a shareholder, and for the last thirteen years has been a shareholder of Akerman Senterfitt. Through the years Steve specialized in corporate law, public finance, and representation of nonprofit corporations, but he ultimately focused his considerable legal talents on the specialty of healthcare law, and he was one of the driving forces for the formation of The Florida Bar's Healthcare Law Section as well as healthcare law specialization. He was a past member of the Board of Governors of the Young Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar. Steve's expertise and knowledge of state and federal healthcare law was renown, and he was a trusted counselor for many of the most prominent individuals and institutions within the Jacksonville and statewide healthcare industries. He was regularly recognized in the area of healthcare law in The Best Lawyers in America and in Florida Trend's Legal Elite. Steve contributed untold hours to numerous charitable organizations, implementing the legal infrastructure and providing leadership as a supporter of many of Jacksonville's charities in the healthcare arena. One of his proudest accomplishments was the success of the non-profit organization We Care Jacksonville, Inc., a coalition of Jacksonville's resources to provide primary and specialty health care to the North Florida area's indigent and uninsured. In his soul Steve was a true waterman. Surfing coursed in his lifeblood from his earliest teens to his last days. Passionate for waves, he travelled the world with his friends mastering its surf with his classic fluid style. Forever generous and unselfish, Steve would freely give the best waves to his buddies. He relished the challenge of competitive sailing equally with the congenial relaxation of simply reaching up and down the river with friends. He was a respected Past Commodore of Epping Forest Yacht Club. Steve excelled at organization and forward thinking, having been a founding member of the Wave Masters Society surf club and later the Jacksonville Sailing Foundation. He was a perennial networker, constantly involving colleagues and friends in the new combinations he conceived and created. He faithfully attended Chets Creek Church with his friends and grandson Joel. Steve loved life, finding good in everything he touched, promoting good will and fostering contagious optimism in all who were blessed with his friendship. Steve was predeceased by his mother but is survived by his father, Rev. George W. Prom, his brother, Marcus J. Prom, his sons and daughter, Aaron J. Prom (Jennifer), Ashley B. Prom, and Adam G. Prom, and his grandson, Joel Rodriguez, for all of whom he was devoted, supportive, and extremely proud. Finally, Steve is survived by his dearest companion, Annmarie Kent-Willette, and by legions of friends. A memorial service celebrating Steve's life will be held at Chets Creek Church, 4420 Hodges Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL, on Friday, May 31, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. His ashes will be interred following a private, family service at Riverside Memorial Park. The family asks that any donations be made to the Stephen G. Prom Memorial Fund, We Care Jacksonville, Inc., 900 University Boulevard North, MC-92, 6th Floor, Jacksonville, FL 32211.