Terri Schiavo's father dies in Florida

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The father of Terri Schiavo, who fought to keep his daughter alive through feeding tubes, has died in Florida at age 71, his son says.

Robert Schindler Sr. died Saturday at Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., of heart failure, a spokesman for his son, Bobby Schindler, told the St. Petersburg Times.

Schindler engaged in a high profile, decade-long legal battle with his son-in-law, Michael Schiavo, who wanted to remove the feeding tube from his wife Terri, saying it was her wish to do so. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually refused to overturn the rulings of the state court, and Terri Schiavo died 13 days after her feeding tube was removed on March 18, 2005.

Schindler's fight endeared him to right-to-life organizations around the United States, who on Saturday sent many condolences to the group he formed after his daughter's death, the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, the Times said.

"After Terri's death, my father was never the same," Bobby Schindler said Saturday though a spokesman. "I am heartbroken over the loss of my father, and yet I know at this moment he is rejoicing with my sister."