Dr. Louis Edward Soscia

Dr. Louis Edward Soscia, age 89, of Bradenton, Florida, passed away on Friday, August 14, 2026. He was born April 19, 1937, in New York City to Vincent Francis Soscia and Louise Costa Soscia and grew up in the Bronx.

Louis attended Fordham University before continuing his education at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, where he attended medical school. After medical school, he completed his training in obstetrics and gynecology through the United States Army as well as at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He later practiced medicine in Scarsdale, New York.

In 1976, Dr. Soscia moved his medical practice to Venice, Florida, where he continued caring for patients as an OB/GYN until his retirement in 1994. As a solo practitioner, he worked long hours and devoted much of his professional life to caring for his patients.

Louis married Diana Gerhards in New York City in 1960. Together they raised three children: Lisa Hermanns, who became a nurse; Dr. William Soscia, who followed his father into medicine; and Dr. Juliet Collins, who also became a physician. Louis’s dedication to medicine and caring for others was reflected in the paths chosen by all three of his children.

Louis had a lifelong passion for sports, especially baseball. Before Tampa Bay had a Major League Baseball team of its own, he was a devoted Atlanta Braves fan. When the Tampa Bay Rays arrived, Louis became a loyal Rays fan and held season tickets for many years. He and Diana also held season tickets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sports were a passion Louis and Diana shared. For many years, they spent countless days and evenings together attending baseball, football, and hockey games throughout the Tampa Bay area. They continued enjoying their season tickets and attending games together until Diana’s passing in 2017.

Louis also had a special affection for high school athletics. All three of his children attended Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, where they were involved in school activities and athletics, including his son William, who played football. Louis became actively involved with the school and served as a team doctor for Cardinal Mooney, bringing together two important parts of his life—his family and his dedication to medicine.

Louis’s Catholic faith ran deeply throughout his life. He was a devoted Catholic who attended Mass every week and, later in life, often attended daily. His faith was not simply a tradition to him, but something he continually sought to deepen through prayer and the sacraments.

As his son William reflected, “As humans, we all have strengths and weaknesses. Dad realized his imperfections and was always desiring to receive the sacraments—particularly Confession and the Eucharist.”

That faith became another part of Louis’s legacy. His son, Dr. William Soscia, followed a calling to serve the Church and was ordained a Catholic deacon later in life.

Louis was preceded in death by Diana in 2017.

He is survived by their three children: Lisa Hermanns (Richard) of St. Petersburg, Florida; Dr. William Soscia (Karen) of Sedalia, Colorado; and Dr. Juliet Collins (David) of St. Petersburg, Florida. He was further blessed with seven grandchildren and a growing family that will soon include ten great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave. Sarasota, FL.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 28th at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3100 26th W., Bradenton, FL 34205, with entombment to follow at Palms Memorial Park.