Obituary for Ernie Porteza Balcueva M.D.
Ernie Porteza Balcueva M.D.
Saginaw, Michigan
Ernie Porteza Balcueva was born on January 20, 1946, in the Philippines after World War II, to Eusebio and Berenguela Balcueva. Joining his older siblings, Edgar, Eusebio Junior, Ernesto, Eden, and Ernani Balcueva.
Educated in the Philippines, he graduated high school in 1962 as class Valedictorian. He continued his education at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC) graduating in 1971 as class Valedictorian and a member of the Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Ernie immigrated to the United States in 1972, becoming a proud United States citizen in 1986. He accepted a rotating flexible internship at Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals, Internal Medicine residency at McLaren General Hospital and Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship at Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine.
Since 1978, Dr. Balcueva had been an active member of the medical staff Past Chief of Staff at Covenant HealthCare (formerly St. Luke’s and Saginaw General Hospitals). He was also an active member of the medical staff at St. Mary’s of Michigan serving as Oncology Research Director from 2001-2021. In addition to being a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and at Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Ernie was also a Principal Investigator for the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium/Community Clinical Oncology Program at St. Mary’s Seton Cancer Institute.
Dr. Balcueva was also appointed to and a member of various medical societies and affiliations, including ASCO, ECOG, SWOG, ACCC, NCORP. He also served as Past President of the Philippine Association of Northeastern Michigan (PANEM). Among his many accolades he was named to “Best Doctors in America – 1999” by Woodward/White and selected for the 2016 Spirit of St. Vincent (Lifetime Achievement Award) by St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.
He remained very active in the Saginaw medical community, having served as Past President and on the Board of Directors of the Saginaw County Medical Society and a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Cancer Pain Initiative and the American Cancer Society, Saginaw Chapter.
Ernie also served as Past President of the Michigan Society of Hematology Oncology (MSHO) from 2004-2006. He remained on the MSHO Board of Directors since 1999 and had recently assumed a new position as the MSHO Foundation President this year.
As a solo practitioner since 1978, he brought in the perspective and experience of community oncology practice to MSHO through the years. He served in consulting staff role at West Branch Regional Medical Center for 21 years, Huron Medical Center for 10 years, and Veterans Administration Hospital. Most recently, Dr. Balcueva worked to develop and grow the Cancer Program with Dr. Chad Pederson at Sidney Health Center in Sidney, Montana. Throughout his career Dr. Balcueva wrote and contributed to over 40 medical articles and publications.
Ernie and his wife Leanne were married in 1978 and spent the last 43 years building their life around caring for their oncology patients, family, and friends. Leanne, a dedicated oncology nurse and office manager, supported her husband in his medical career and all his outreach activities.
The Balcuevas especially enjoyed spending time with their four grown children and grandson; Elizabeth (Lorne) Cook of Orlando, Florida; Sarah Balcueva and her son Ethan Balcueva of Birmingham, Michigan; Dr. Daniel (Alison) Balcueva of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Emily Balcueva and significant other Jake Wojciechowski of East Lansing, Michigan. Ernie was very proud of his children and especially proud of his grandson Ethan, and very excited to welcome his twin granddaughters into the world in March. They spent much of their time together at their retreat in Northport, MI in Leelanau Peninsula or at Michigan State University football and basketball games cheering on the Spartans.
After living an extremely accomplished and exuberant life, Ernie passed away peacefully on February 14, 2022 at the age of 76. He is survived by his loving wife, four children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and grandson; two brothers Dr. Ermelo (Julita) Balcueva, and Dr. Eden (Dr. Loulie) Balcueva both of the Philippines, sister-in-law Mary Jane Balcueva of Saginaw, sister-in-law Adelina, sister-in-law Linda both of the Philippines; sisters and brothers-in-law Janice (Roy) Piotrowski, Mike Backus, Marlene Gaiser, Joyce (Ben) Conklin, Joe (Delphine) Dubey, Gayle (Bob) Lardie, Betty (Joe) Proulx and many nieces, nephews, and family throughout the United States and Philippines.
Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Edgar, Eusebio Junior, Ernesto, Ernani Montenegro, and Edmundo; father and mother-in-law Vernon and Edith Dubey; sister-in-law Karen Backus; brother-in-law Harry Gaiser; nephews Eddie, Randy, Ricky, and Brad Balcueva; niece Roxanne Piotrowski.
Funeral services will take place 6:00 p.m. Friday, February 25, 2022 at the Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd. (between Shattuck and McCarty). Rev. Fr. Robert Byrne will officiate with entombment in St. Andrew Mausoleum. Friends may visit at the funeral home, where the family will be present on Friday from 12:00 p.m. until time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to The Balcueva Family to establish a scholarship for medical students in Dr. Balcueva’s name. Memorial contributions in Dr. Balcueva's honor may be made using the following link, https://www.gofundme.com/f/ernie-p-balcueva-md-scholarship-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1.
Ernie’s family has requested the Funeral Service be live-streamed. By using the link attached (copy and paste into your web browser), you will be able to join in the Celebration of Ernie’s Life with other family and friends in attendance. https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/8586843881. You can also click the "Photo and Video" tab below Ernie’s name and dates on his obituary page. At the bottom of the page, please click the box next to "watch webcast", and it will take you to the live-stream. https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/8586843881
“What we once enjoyed and deeply love we can never lose, for all that we deeply love becomes part of us” – Hellen Keller.
Saginaw, Michigan
Ernie Porteza Balcueva was born on January 20, 1946, in the Philippines after World War II, to Eusebio and Berenguela Balcueva. Joining his older siblings, Edgar, Eusebio Junior, Ernesto, Eden, and Ernani Balcueva.
Educated in the Philippines, he graduated high school in 1962 as class Valedictorian. He continued his education at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC) graduating in 1971 as class Valedictorian and a member of the Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Ernie immigrated to the United States in 1972, becoming a proud United States citizen in 1986. He accepted a rotating flexible internship at Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals, Internal Medicine residency at McLaren General Hospital and Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship at Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine.
Since 1978, Dr. Balcueva had been an active member of the medical staff Past Chief of Staff at Covenant HealthCare (formerly St. Luke’s and Saginaw General Hospitals). He was also an active member of the medical staff at St. Mary’s of Michigan serving as Oncology Research Director from 2001-2021. In addition to being a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and at Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Ernie was also a Principal Investigator for the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium/Community Clinical Oncology Program at St. Mary’s Seton Cancer Institute.
Dr. Balcueva was also appointed to and a member of various medical societies and affiliations, including ASCO, ECOG, SWOG, ACCC, NCORP. He also served as Past President of the Philippine Association of Northeastern Michigan (PANEM). Among his many accolades he was named to “Best Doctors in America – 1999” by Woodward/White and selected for the 2016 Spirit of St. Vincent (Lifetime Achievement Award) by St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.
He remained very active in the Saginaw medical community, having served as Past President and on the Board of Directors of the Saginaw County Medical Society and a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Cancer Pain Initiative and the American Cancer Society, Saginaw Chapter.
Ernie also served as Past President of the Michigan Society of Hematology Oncology (MSHO) from 2004-2006. He remained on the MSHO Board of Directors since 1999 and had recently assumed a new position as the MSHO Foundation President this year.
As a solo practitioner since 1978, he brought in the perspective and experience of community oncology practice to MSHO through the years. He served in consulting staff role at West Branch Regional Medical Center for 21 years, Huron Medical Center for 10 years, and Veterans Administration Hospital. Most recently, Dr. Balcueva worked to develop and grow the Cancer Program with Dr. Chad Pederson at Sidney Health Center in Sidney, Montana. Throughout his career Dr. Balcueva wrote and contributed to over 40 medical articles and publications.
Ernie and his wife Leanne were married in 1978 and spent the last 43 years building their life around caring for their oncology patients, family, and friends. Leanne, a dedicated oncology nurse and office manager, supported her husband in his medical career and all his outreach activities.
The Balcuevas especially enjoyed spending time with their four grown children and grandson; Elizabeth (Lorne) Cook of Orlando, Florida; Sarah Balcueva and her son Ethan Balcueva of Birmingham, Michigan; Dr. Daniel (Alison) Balcueva of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Emily Balcueva and significant other Jake Wojciechowski of East Lansing, Michigan. Ernie was very proud of his children and especially proud of his grandson Ethan, and very excited to welcome his twin granddaughters into the world in March. They spent much of their time together at their retreat in Northport, MI in Leelanau Peninsula or at Michigan State University football and basketball games cheering on the Spartans.
After living an extremely accomplished and exuberant life, Ernie passed away peacefully on February 14, 2022 at the age of 76. He is survived by his loving wife, four children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and grandson; two brothers Dr. Ermelo (Julita) Balcueva, and Dr. Eden (Dr. Loulie) Balcueva both of the Philippines, sister-in-law Mary Jane Balcueva of Saginaw, sister-in-law Adelina, sister-in-law Linda both of the Philippines; sisters and brothers-in-law Janice (Roy) Piotrowski, Mike Backus, Marlene Gaiser, Joyce (Ben) Conklin, Joe (Delphine) Dubey, Gayle (Bob) Lardie, Betty (Joe) Proulx and many nieces, nephews, and family throughout the United States and Philippines.
Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Edgar, Eusebio Junior, Ernesto, Ernani Montenegro, and Edmundo; father and mother-in-law Vernon and Edith Dubey; sister-in-law Karen Backus; brother-in-law Harry Gaiser; nephews Eddie, Randy, Ricky, and Brad Balcueva; niece Roxanne Piotrowski.
Funeral services will take place 6:00 p.m. Friday, February 25, 2022 at the Snow Funeral Home, 3775 N. Center Rd. (between Shattuck and McCarty). Rev. Fr. Robert Byrne will officiate with entombment in St. Andrew Mausoleum. Friends may visit at the funeral home, where the family will be present on Friday from 12:00 p.m. until time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to The Balcueva Family to establish a scholarship for medical students in Dr. Balcueva’s name. Memorial contributions in Dr. Balcueva's honor may be made using the following link, https://www.gofundme.com/f/ernie-p-balcueva-md-scholarship-fund?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1.
Ernie’s family has requested the Funeral Service be live-streamed. By using the link attached (copy and paste into your web browser), you will be able to join in the Celebration of Ernie’s Life with other family and friends in attendance. https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/8586843881. You can also click the "Photo and Video" tab below Ernie’s name and dates on his obituary page. At the bottom of the page, please click the box next to "watch webcast", and it will take you to the live-stream. https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/8586843881
“What we once enjoyed and deeply love we can never lose, for all that we deeply love becomes part of us” – Hellen Keller.