Anthony Acosta

Acosta, Dr. Anthony "Tony" 67, of St Pete Beach, passed away peacefully Sunday, November 19th, at his home on Pass A Grille beach. He was surrounded by family and friends. Anthony was born February 1, 1950 in Tampa, Florida to Rudy and Mary Acosta. He grew up in a large, loving extended family in Tampa and graduated from H.B. Plant High School. After receiving a bachelor's degree in science from the University of Florida he went on to earn his M.D. from The University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed a residency in family practice at The University of South Florida School of Medicine and earned board certification in family practice and emergency medicine. He spent his entire career working as an emergency room physician at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. He was the medical director of emergency medicine for the past 26 years. He was highly respected by his colleagues and taught and mentored many emergency medicine providers over the years. He was a past recipient of the AJ Gorday Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a Bayfront physician. He is preceaded in death by his wife Mary Frances and father Rudy Acosta, Sr. Anthony is survived by his children Nicholas Acosta and Kristina Acosta. He is also survived by his mother Mary Caltagirone Acosta, his brothers David Acosta, M.D., Rudy Acosta, Jr., M.D and sister-in-law Melanie Acosta and his longtime companion Debra Hunter and a large extended family and many devoted friends and colleagues. Dr. Acosta's family is extremely grateful to his two primary caregivers Clementina Rupiza and Ruby Carrillo. We are also very grateful to Laurie Hobbs of Bayfront Home Health for her devotion and care of Anthony throughout his illness. Anthony's family cannot find the words to express our appreciation and gratitude for the care, devotion and time that his Bayfront colleagues and friends provided Anthony during this challenging time. They treated him like family, and we now consider them a part of ours. A visitation for Dr. Acosta will be held Friday, November 24, 2017 from 11am-1pm with a funeral ceremony honoring Dr. Acosta's service to the community starting at 1pm; both will be at Anderson McQueen 2201 MLK Jr. St. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33704. There will also be a memorial service on Tuesday, November 28 at 2pm at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation in Dr. Acosta's name to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.