Oswaldo Polit, MD

Oswaldo Polit, M.D., at the age of 89, left this world April 6, 2019 to be with our Heavenly Father. He passed away peacefully at his home in St. Augustine, Florida surrounded by his children and loved ones. Oswaldo was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador to Carlos Eduardo Polit, M.D. and Blanca Cortes de Polit. He had four siblings: Jaime, Susana, Martha, and Carlos. Through the course of life, Oswaldo took on many roles: son, brother, friend, physician, husband, father, uncle, God-father and grandfather. He lived his life with discipline, steadfast devotion to his faith, and unwavering support and love of his family. Outside of his family, Oswaldo thoroughly enjoyed travel, tennis, automobiles, and motor scooters. His traveling adventures took him through most of the continental United States, Canada, Central and South America, and Western Europe. As a teenager in Quito, he found his one true love, Marta Vivanco Polit. On January 30, 1955 they married in the private chapel of the Papal Nuncio of Quito Ecuador. Pursuing his career as a medical doctor, they moved to Baltimore, Maryland and had their first son, Oswaldo Polit, Jr., known as Ozzie. Soon he and his wife were affectionately known as Papito and Mamita. After two more stops in Pueblo, Colorado and Kansas City, Kansas he completed specialty training in internal medicine and in 1960 started private practice in Decatur, Illinois. He and Marta laid roots in Decatur where they had two more children, Mario and Carmen. Oswaldo returned to Quito in 1977 with his wife and children. He lived in Quito until 1983, then moved back to Decatur where he finished his career. In 1992, at the age of 62, he retired to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. His youngest child, Carmen Polit Martin, moved to South Florida shortly thereafter and married Clay Martin. Carmen and Clay provided Oswaldo and Marta two beautiful grandchildren, Raquel and Monica. As toddlers they named their grandparents Tata and Tita. Oswaldo and Marta happily followed the Martins from Ft. Lauderdale to West Palm Beach and then to their final home in St. Augustine. On November 4, 2016, Marta, his wife of nearly 62 years, passed away following a struggle with Alzheimer's. In her last years, Oswaldo kept her world together with constant vigilance, care, and love. In the summer of 2018, it was Oswaldo’s turn to be taken care of. His eldest son, Ozzie, retired and moved to St. Augustine and cared for Oswaldo with compassion, companionship, and love. While we mourn the loss of our dear Oswaldo, we take solace in knowing that he is in heaven reunited with his wife, Marta, and loved ones that passed before him. We are certain Oswaldo and Marta watch over their family, hand in hand, with the same love, affection, and smiles that characterized their eternal romance. Oswaldo is survived by: his children Ozzie, Mario and Carmen, son-in-law Clay, grandchildren Raquel and Monica, and two sisters Susana and Martha. The Polit family wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude to Patrice Smith of Middleburg, Florida. She cared for both Marta and Oswaldo in their final years with kindness and love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” St. Johns Family Funeral Home in is in charge of arrangements.

Oswaldo Polit, MD

January 17, 1929 - April 6, 2019