Paul Gilbert Steinkuller was born in Hinsdale, Illinois on August 15, 1941 to Paul and Dorothy Steinkuller. He died peacefully at home on October 21, 2024, at age 83. Paul was devoted to his family and to the medical profession, practicing in Houston as well as in east and southern Africa.
Paul graduated from Kingston City High School in upstate New York in 1959. After high school, he attended Duke University, class of 1963, where he majored in zoology. He enjoyed being a member of a fraternity, where he made lifelong friendships.
Following college, Paul began his medical studies at the George Washington School of Medicine in Washington, DC, graduating in 1967. On the first day of medical school, he met his classmate and future wife Joan Sommers. They attended medical school together and married in 1966. Paul became a pediatric ophthalmologist, and Joan became a pediatrician. Their medical calling took them many places as they traveled through life together, raising four children and serving with medical organizations in Galveston and Houston, as well as in Kenya, Malawi, and Madagascar.
Paul joined the US Navy in 1967. He served as a flight surgeon with the US Marine Corps VMFA-333 squadron from 1969 to 1970, and as the senior medical officer on the USS Intrepid from 1970-72. He was recalled to active duty for Operation Desert Storm in 1990.
He completed a residency in ophthalmology at the Washington Hospital Center from 1972-75, where he was chief resident in 1975. He completed a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in 1977.
Dr. Steinkuller dedicated his life to reducing the burden of blindness in the US and around the world. As a pediatric ophthalmologist, he truly enjoyed helping patients and their families understand and manage eye problems to preserve their sight. His medical work included teaching on the faculty of Baylor College of Medicine (1983-85, 1987-1998, and 2004-2012). He and his wife Joan, a pediatrician, worked extensively in east and southern Africa, including Kenya, Malawi, and Madagascar. He worked in Kenya for the International Eye Foundation (IEF) on its Kenya Rural Blindness Prevention Project from 1979 to 1983. IEF then posted him and his family to Malawi where he was the Project Co-director for IEF’s Malawi Blindness Prevention Project from 1984 to 1987. He then served in Madagascar with Christian Blind Mission International (CBM) from 1998-2004.
Dr. Steinkuller’ s professional accomplishments included being a recognized clinician, researcher, and educator. It was a great pleasure and joy for him to teach medical students, residents, and fellows. He received numerous teaching awards and recognition throughout his career. In 2004, he was awarded the honor of Chevalier (Knight) from the government of Madagascar for creating the first ophthalmic residency program in Madagascar. In 2007, he was awarded the Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). In 2022 he was selected as a Guest of Honor at the AAO’s annual meeting.
In retirement, Paul divided his time between Arizona and upstate New York. He enjoyed living in Casa Grande, Arizona, during the winter months. During the summer, he lived in Alexandria Bay, New York, where he treasured time with his sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Bill Plimpton, and their family.
Paul also became an accomplished golfer, winning a golf foursome in Alexandria Bay, New York, in 2017.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Joan Sommers Steinkuller. He is survived by his daughter, Anne-Marie Fitzgerald, son-in-law Thomas Fitzgerald, and granddaughter Ashlynn Fitzgerald; son Paul David Steinkuller; son John Erik Steinkuller, daughter Fozia Steinkuller; and beloved grand-dog Bella Louise.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX.
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