Dr. Peter Franck

Dr. Peter Franck

1936 - 2013

Peter Franck was born in Pasadena California to Anita Chadbourne and Thomas George Franck in 1936. Peter had two twin sisters, with whom he was very close, Mary and Susan. Peter grew up in the Bay Area and was sent to St. Paul's Boarding school at the age of 12. He then went on to study Anthropology at Harvard University followed by a medical degree from Harvard Medical School specializing in infectious disease. During his time in Boston he worked at Mass General where he met his wife of 51 years, Fay, who was working as a zoologist at the time. Peter and Fay lived in Panama for 4 years while Peter worked for the Middle America Research Unit and the National Institute of Health studying tropical medicine and working with the Kuna Indians. They moved to Redding CA in 1974, where Peter was an infectious disease physician at Mercy Medical Center and in private practice.

Peter was an avid outdoorsman. He was an experienced sailor. He sailed in Greece, Panama, across the North Sea, and along the East Coast of the US. Peter also loved powder and helicopter skiing in Canada and Utah. He spent several summers since the age of 16 white water canoeing in the Northwest Territories of Canada. One trip appeared in the television series Bold Journeys in the 50's. He loved backpacking in the Trinities and Cascades of Northern California.

Peter developed Parkinson's disease with dementia, although he continued to keep his dry sense of humor and diagnostic skills to the end of his life. He passed away June 28th from pneumonia with his family at his bedside.

Peter is survived by his wife Fay of Redding, sister Mary of San Francisco, daughters Cindy, Elizabeth, Valerie, grandson Martin Volz and caregiver Karen Duckett. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Michael J Fox foundation for Parkinson's Research.