Dr. Bernard "Bernie" Meyer Steinau
Dr. Bernard Meyer Steinau died Friday, October 11, 2002 in Tucson, AZ. Dr. Steinau was born, February 25, 1927, in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. He was an early Jazz music historian, studied primitive weaponry and enjoyed birding, photography and art. He enlisted in the US Army June 9, 1944 at Camp Chaffee, AR as a medical laboratory technician, received the World War II Victory Medal and was honorably discharged at Fort Lawton, Washington, December 4, 1946. He was educated in New Orleans public schools and graduated from LSU Medical School, 1952, and took his premedical education at the same university. He interned at Southern Pacific General Hospital in San Francisco, CA and did a three year psychiatric residency at Charity Hospital of Louisiana at New Orleans. He was in private practice in New Orleans from 1959 to 1962 and consulted for the Veterans Administration Regional Office Mental Hygiene Service. He also practiced at Central Louisiana State Hospital and was staff Psychiatrist at Southeast Louisiana State Hospital. In 1962 he was the Medical Director at Koff-Steinau Psychiatric Clinic in Atlanta, GA. In 1971 he moved to Las Cruces, NM and assumed the position ofMedical Director ofthe Southwest Mental Health Center. In 1976 he started a full time private practice in Las Cruces and was one of the founders of the Mesilla Valley Hospital in 1987. He was a member of the American Psychiatric Association, New Mexico Medical Society, New Mexico Psychiatric Society and Dona Ana Medical Society. Dr. Steinau was the son of David Sylvan Steinau and Estelle Marguerite Meyer. He was predeceased by his first wife, Pattie Naomi Bright, who died in Las Cruces, New Mexico, November 15, 1972. Dr. Steinau married Barbara Elizabeth Maxson, the daughter of Stephen Wallace Maxson and Mary Ruteria Gillespie, on November 22,1973 in Las Cruces, NM. Dr. Steinau's is survived by his wife Barbara Maxson Steinau of Tucson, AZ, his sister Ruth Leah Barnes of New Orleans, LA, four children: Deborah Anne Steinau of Houston, TX, David Robert Steinau of Key West, FL, Karin Leah Steinau of Houston, TX and Richard Allen Steinau of Las Cruces, NM; four step children: Michael Stephen Waller of Houston, TX, Barbara Lynne Washam of Hudson, NH, Jack Thomas Waller of Ridgecrest, CA and Mary Kay Brethauer of Oregon, WI.