Dr. Charles E Metzger Sr.

was born in Louisville, Ohio on February 4, 1934 to Joseph Lawrence Metzger and Mary Elizabeth Casper.

He spent his childhood growing up on a farm in Ohio until his parents moved him and his 8 siblings (Thomas, Joseph, Jim, Katie, Martha, Mary, John and Monica) to North Miami during his teenage years, in 1948. He attended Catholic grade school at first, but was mistreated. After a disagreement with the headmaster during his sophomore year, Chuck decided that he would not go back to that school. He quit high school and eventually got his GED by attending night school. He was an excellent student who enjoyed studying. He also had an infectious sense of humor and was happy to flash his mischievous side. He joined the Army National Guard around this time. He eventually attended the University of Miami for college. As he struggled to find the right career path to pursue, an aptitude test placed him as a future dentist. When he spoke with his mother about this, she told him to “Be a priest or a doctor, but not a dentist.” He completed his medical degree at the University of Miami in 1965. He then moved to Chicago to complete his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at renowned Cook County Hospital, one of the busiest hospitals in the country at the time. While working as a resident, he met an ER nurse that talked back to him one day during hospital rounds. That nurse was named Bonnie Jane Sullivan. This meeting would spark a whirlwind romance. Chuck would propose marriage 2 weeks later. They married about a year later, on August 21, 1965 and soon welcomed Regis Charles, followed a year later by Mark Joseph while still living in Chicago.

After moving to Florida, their family grew by adding Charles Edward, the late Patrick Stephen (1971), the late Cheryl Lies (1972-1990) and Lisa Anne Metzger to the family.

After completing his residency in December of 1968, Dr. Metzger moved his family back to South Florida to begin private practice in Boca Raton, joining the first medical group in Boca Raton, referred to as “HOA” (Dr. Clem Hagedorn, Dr. Harry Overby and Dr. Jack Alley). He eventually became a partner with Boca Raton Medical Group and then Metzger Comprehensive Care. He practiced excellent medicine until his retirement on April 1, 2013. During his 45 years of practice, he served as President of the Florida Medical Association and also in various roles as a physician leader for Boca Raton Community (now Boca Raton Regional) Hospital. He was highly regarded as a physician, by colleagues and patients alike, for his diagnostic acumen, his kind nature, his warm bedside manner and humble dedication to those around him.

Though his career in medicine was a big part of his life, Chuck lived for his family. He was always willing to drop everything to listen and to give good advice. Above all, he lived his life with faith and integrity and never complained, even on the toughest days that he had during his long life. He enjoyed a scotch whiskey and an occasional cigar to relax and unwind while listening to Frank Sinatra. He would never turn down chocolate ice cream. He started playing golf in his 50s and enjoyed it very much into his 80s.

He cherished being a Grandfather to his 10 grandchildren: Regis Paul, Charlie Edward III, Brendan Mark, Joseph Fitzgerald, Michael Lies, Alicia Jane, Adriana Patricia, Corine Cheryl, Natalia Alexa and Mark Joseph.

Dr. Charles Metzger was also a pillar of and a fixture at St. Joan of Arc, attending Mass on a daily basis for a significant portion of his adult life. He was a devout Catholic who regularly prayed the rosary. He was proud to raise his children in the Catholic faith and was happy to serve as the doctor for the clergy and nuns of St. Joan of Arc.

Dr. Charles Edward Metzger was a one of a kind human being who will be desperately missed, always remembered fondly. His legacy of faith, love and kindness will live eternally as he rises to Heaven to watch over his family and to be with loved ones that went before him, especially his children, Patrick Stephen and Cheryl Lies Metzger, who undoubtedly greeted him with open arms and angel’s wings on the morning of Christmas Eve, 2023.