Ann-Michele Gundlach walked into Donald “Don” Steinwachs’ office in 2003, unsure what to expect from her interview with the chair of the health policy department at Johns Hopkins University.

Her résumé and paperwork were stacked in front of him. She readied herself for the typical questions: Why do you want this job? What are your qualifications?

But he asked: “What do you want me to know about you?”

Gundlach sat for a moment, then launched into one of the best introductory conversations she’s ever had. In the end, she got the job — and an interaction that set the tone for an enduring friendship.

“You learn a lot from people who ask good questions,” Gundlach said. “Don asked the best questions.”

Steinwachs, who worked across disciplines to research and implement new ways to improve health care services, died Feb. 28 of progressive aphasia, a form of dementia. He was 79.

He was born Sept. 9, 1946, in Boise, Idaho, to Don and Emma Steinwachs. The family moved around often for his dad’s military career. As an only child, Steinwachs spent a lot of time around adults, so was always very mature, said his wife, Sharon “Sherry” Steinwachs.

When he was 5, the family lived in Arlington, Virginia. Steinwachs went to kindergarten near the Pentagon, where his father worked.

As the younger Don would tell the story, his teacher asked him to stay inside with some classmates while she took other kids outside. Steinwachs decided that was unacceptable, so he left. His father happened to look out the window to see his son strolling down the street.

The family settled in Arizona when Steinwachs was in the fourth grade. He’d always tell stories about riding bikes around the desert with his friends. In high school, he earned cash mowing lawns, doing yard work and lifeguarding at the local YMCA.

Art Janssen first met Steinwachs in high school, when the two played on the tennis team together. Steinwachs would always rank No. 3, and Janssen No. 4 — “truth be told, he was the better player,” Janssen conceded.

The friends went off to the University of Arizona, where Steinwachs studied engineering and math and “was a very serious, disciplined student,” Janssen said. “He worked all the time, really a Mr. Straight Arrow.”

Over the summers, he traveled to Mexico to participate in a Red Cross program teaching locals how to swim. He was also a part of the ROTC Color Guard and, upon graduation, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army.

“He matured kind of like an old cheese,” Janssen said. “He got better with age, but he was a pretty well-put-together individual from the get-go.”

After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Steinwachs accepted an offer from Johns Hopkins University to pursue a doctorate in systems engineering and operations research.

His Baltimore apartment was directly above Sherry’s. One day, Steinwachs’ roommate ran into Sherry’s roommate at the pool and invited them to dinner. Sherry was captivated by his blue eyes and gregarious nature. They spent the early days of their relationship hiking, exploring new parts of the city and visiting historical sites.

They married in 1972 at Peerce’s Plantation, where they’d later return for anniversary dinners.

At Hopkins, Steinwachs found a mentor in Sam Shapiro, the director of what is now the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research. After graduating in 1973, Steinwachs joined the Hopkins staff as a health services administration professor. Nine years later, he succeeded his mentor as head of the research center, a position he held for three decades.

“Don had a real analytical bent, and he was also just a real people person,” his wife said. He chose the field to help improve the delivery of health care services and lower costs.

Steinwachs, as chair of the Health Policy and Management Department at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, made it a point to work with colleagues in multiple departments. He was especially interested in mental health research, co-directing a study on schizophrenia that developed the first comprehensive, evidence-based treatment recommendations for the illness, according to a Hopkins tribute.

The Hopkins obituary also highlighted Steinwachs’ efforts to establish AcademyHealth, an organization for health care researchers, and his advocacy in 1989 for Congress to create what is now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He was also elected to the Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Sciences.

Steinwachs was a humble leader who deferred to others and offered mentorship whenever possible, former colleagues said. He was a “knowledge-seeker,” Gundlach said, who understood data but was always interested in the stories behind the numbers.

Steinwachs “was one of those rare individuals who actually listened to questions, listened to people, and whose answers were always very thoughtful and considered,” said Sheila West, a friend and former colleague.

Outside of work, Steinwachs most of all cherished time with his wife. They enjoyed sailing and traveling the world. They made it to all seven continents, including Antarctica, their favorite trip. The couple also loved hosting friends, going to the theater, playing pool and fine dining.

Steinwachs was a man who wore many hats, his wife said, but should be remembered most of all for his kindness and empathy. His judgment was “impeccable,” she said, and he never had a bad word to say about anyone.

“He was really the light of my life,” Sherry Steinwachs said. “He just always made me feel so safe and protected. I felt I could rely on him for anything.”

A memorial service is scheduled March 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Ruck Funeral Homes in Towson.

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