Gregory Schultz PhD's Obituary
Gregory Scott Schultz PhD, esteemed Professor (1988-2020) and Professor Emeritus (2020-2024) of the University of Florida OB/GYN Department / Director of the Institute for Wound Research (1988-2020), beloved younger brother of Rodney Schultz of Los Alamos, New Mexico, beloved husband of Ruth Hunt Schultz (1974-2024), beloved father of Megan Schultz Watson (1981-2022) and Kurt Edwin Schultz (1984), passed away on April 11, 2024, in Washington D.C. at the age of 74.
Born on September 30, 1949, in Enid Oklahoma to Edwin Weber Schultz and Mary Nelle Durham, Greg’s life became centered around curiosity, exploration, hard work, integrity and a passion for learning and science. He graduated from Enid High School (1967), earned a Bachelor of Science (1971) and PhD (1976) at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Biochemistry located in Stillwater, Oklahoma where he met Ruth Hunt (BS 1975). They were married on December 21, 1974.
After three years of post-doctoral studies on hypertension at Yale University in the Cell Biology Department, he joined the faculty at the University of Louisville Biochemistry Department (1979-1989). His work there in the growth factor field resulted in collaborations with other departments. Ophthalmologist Dr Richard Eiferman and he used Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) to aid in corneal healing. Greg also grew skin for burn patients and developed an EGF salve to treat and heal wounds to prevent diabetic amputations.
He continued working with growth factors and more recently biofilms after he accepted the positions of Professor in the UF Department of OB/GYN and Director of the Institute for Wound Research in 1989. His forty-six-page resume lists many awards and honors, publications, various mentorships, patents, grants funded, and lectures presented, which allowed him to travel the world.
Greg loved his work and never lost the enthusiasm for creating ideas and viable solutions to help patients. It was particularly wonderful to see his research make a difference in medical field applications. He loved teaching and working with students of all ages in his lab. When UF medical students did research projects and displayed their posters in the Atrium of Shands Hospital, he invited the Alachua County Science Fair award winners to join them with their poster displays. This event was well attended and encouraged community mentorship and involvement.
He was a five-gallon blood donor at Life-South and participated in a few 5K runs to support various fundraising events. He enjoyed playing on the department softball team, the Storks.
He enjoyed many other activities with his family, playing tennis, gardening, watching the Gators play sports, swimming, scuba diving, boating, snow skiing, cheering on his children’s activities of karate, softball, swimming, band, and dance. He had many amazing trips, some of which he was accompanied by his wife Ruth and took each of the children on special trips.
Greg was pre-deceased by his parents and by his beloved daughter Maggie and granddaughter Mira in April 2022. He leaves behind his brother Rodney, wife Ruth, son Kurt, son-in-law Levi Watson, grandson Emmett Watson, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Greg will be sorely missed by family, friends and colleagues. A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Greg on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in the UF University Auditorium at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Gregory Schultz Legacy Fund for Scholarships or a Lectureship that Ruth will be setting up in his name. The status of the Fund will be confirmed via email to donors who provide their names and emails.
If you would like to attend the Celebration of Life Service and have not been contacted by the family, please contact Kurt Schultz at [email protected]
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