Francis Scholan

Dr. Francis Scholan, pediatrician, sailor, fisherman and medical counselor to town, city and university, died at his Fairfield home on January 9, 2011. The cause was leukemia and congestive heart failure. He had been an U.S. Air Force Major, Fairfield town physician, medical director at Fairfield University, and federal Headstart consultant to the City of Bridgeport. Dedicated to public service, he was a volunteer physician at the Indian Health Service at Fort Defiance, Arizona, and he served two tours of duty at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti. In addition, he served for 10 years as a volunteer for the Americares Clinic in Norwalk for 38 years he was in private practice as a pediatrician based at the Tide Mill on the Mill River in Southport with Dr. William Kueffner and others. Together, they cared for thousands of children still living, grown up, in Fairfield and Southport. Dr. Scholan was president of the Saugatuck Fish and Game Club, a member of the Fairfield Beach Club and of the Pequot Yacht Club, where he was fleet surgeon. He was a dedicated and skilful tennis player, expert fly fisherman, accomplished sailor, and chairman of the ancient Southport club called Bachelor's Comfort and Married Men's Retreat. Born May 17, 1929 in Waterbury, CT., Dr Scholan was the son of Francis Patrick and Elizabeth Fitzmaurice Scholan. He was graduated from Crosby High School in Waterbury, Providence College, and Tufts University School of Medicine. He interned at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport and then became a pediatric resident at Boston University Medical School. After this residency, he served as chief of pediatrics at the U.S. Air Force Hospital at Dow Air Force Base in Maine He retired from the military as a major. He is a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and also of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. While a partner of Dr. Kueffner in Southport, Dr. Scholan served on the staff of St. Vincent's Hospital and of Bridgeport Hospital, where he was a senior attending physician at the Department of Pediatrics and member of the Medical Executive Committee. Dr. Scholan was predeceased in l988 by his first wife Clara Suhr Scholan and in l957 by twin daughters. He is survived by his beloved wife Gail Clouet Scholan and by daughters Kathleen and her husband Dr. William McPadden of Easton, Lynn and her husband George Barnett of New Milford, and a son James and his wife Heather of Colorado Springs, CO. His surviving grandchildren are Megan Scholan Numbers, Alexandra and Rebeka Scholan, Shaena and Patrick McPadden, and Clara and George Barnett. A greatgrandson, Linton Numbers, also survives him. Also surviving are a sister Margaret Hoganauer of Newtown and a brother Dr. John Scholan and his wife Cynthia of Essex Junction, Vt., along with many nieces and nephews. Stepchildren of Dr. Scholan survive as well: Leslie McGrath and her husband William Taylor, their daughters Carly and Elizabeth, Brian Prioleau and his wife Adriana of Austin, TX, and Alison and her husband Michael and son Ellis of Chicago. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, January 14, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 149 South Pine Creek Road, Fairfield. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 4-8 p.m. in the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. Gifts in memory of Dr. Scholan may be made to Hospital Albert Schweitzer, Haiti, P.O. Box 81046, Pittsburgh, PA. 15217. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com.