Dr. Edward Andrew Fazekas, DPM

Edward “Ed” Andrew Fazekas, 70, passed away on January 15, 2025, following a courageous battle with glioblastoma.

A resident of Lakeland, Florida, Ed was born in Newark, New Jersey on November 11, 1954. Ed graduated from Essex Catholic High School in 1972 and attended the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor of Science cum laude in 1976.

Ed earned his doctorate in 1981 at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. While completing his podiatric surgical residency program at the New Berlin Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he met the love of his life, Maria Fazekas. He moved to Florida in 1982, becoming an associate and later a partner at the Foot and Ankle Associates of Lakeland. In August 1983, Ed married Maria in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. 

As a podiatrist, Ed treated patients and performed surgery at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland Surgical and Diagnostic Center, Central Florida Surgi-Center, and Highland Regional Medical Center and Surgical Center of Central Florida in Sebring. 

Ed held an illustrious career in podiatry and podiatric sports medicine. He published multiple scientific papers and served clinical faculty appointments as an adjunct clinical professor at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He was also a fellow of the American Colleges of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. 

Close friends and colleagues recognized Ed as an esteemed leader in the field of podiatry. Ed posthumously received the 2025 Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA) Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated service to the medical field of podiatry. A valued member of the FPMA for more than 42 years, Ed served as president from 2000-2001. Ed also represented Florida for 24 years as a delegate of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Ed was also a past president and member of the Polk County Podiatric Medical Association.

Active in the community and church, Ed served others beyond his professional career. He was a Lakeland Leadership Class XXIX alumnus. His strong faith also led him to join the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization dedicated to faith, patriotism and supporting military veterans. Ed achieved the highest honor as a Fourth Degree Knight of the Order. He also served as an Eucharistic Minister for several years at Resurrection Catholic Church.

He was a devoted husband and father who loved spending time with family at the beach, especially on Anna Maria Island. Ed loved to travel with Maria to scuba dive and explore the world together. His favorite pastimes included photography, taekwondo, tennis and music. He enjoyed playing guitar and the drums.

Always cheering on his family, Ed loved to show his collegiate pride by sporting gear from the alma maters of his wife and four children, which included the University of Florida, Florida Southern College, Florida State University, and the University of South Florida.

Ed is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Jane Fazekas (née Gowen). He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Maria (née Berridge), as well as his children Juliana (Jack) Rogers, Nicholas, Gabrielle (Will Engle) and Christiane Fazekas. Ed is also survived by his sister, Suzanne (née Fazekas), her husband, Michael Scalisi, and nieces, Simona and Jayne Scalisi.

A funeral mass will be held Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church at 333 Terrace Way, Lakeland, Florida. A reception will follow at the Campisi Banquet Hall.

Memorials may be offered to Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine (LVIM) at 600 West Peachtree Street, Lakeland, Florida or online at https://bit.ly/LVIMEdFazekas; or The Musella Foundation for Brain Tumor Research at 1100 Peninsula Boulevard, Hewlett, New York, 11557 or online at https://virtualtrials.org/fazekas.

Flowers and condolences may be sent to the family at www.heathfuneralchapel.com