Francis J. Collini Sr.

August 18, 2011

Francis J. Collini Sr., M.D., F.A.C.P., 82, of Brooklyn, N.Y., passed away Thursday, August 18, 2011, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., with his four sons, wife and daughters-in-law at his side. Dr. Collini was born on March 14, 1929, in Brooklyn, N.Y., a son to Isoletta and Giuseppe Collini from Pinzolo, Italy. Giuseppe was the president of the N.Y. Grinder's Association and worked as a professional knife grinder his entire career. He was preceded in death by his sister, Teresa Paini. Dr. Collini attended both Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. He then graduated from St. John's University in New York, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He then attended Columbia University graduate school for one year, majoring in science, and went on to receive his M.D. degree from Georgetown University Medical School in 1954. After graduation, he interned at the Brooklyn Cumberland Hospital and then proudly served his nation as a captain in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1957, when he was stationed in Verona, Italy. After the military, he returned to Brooklyn where he practiced medicine and cardiology for the next 40 years, establishing both a successful private practice and working as a physician for the Health Insurance Plan of New York. He retired in 2001, and in 2006 he began a second career as a consultant for RTR Financial Services Inc., during which time his format for writing summaries of medical charts became the gold standard for the company. During his 40-year career, Dr. Collini published numerous articles including a landmark article on Carcinoid Syndrome that was published in the prestigious NEJM. In the 1990s, Dr. Collini was awarded the honor of serving as chairman of the Quality Assurance Committee at Brooklyn Cumberland Hospital. Also, in his later years, he lectured for AMRIT on such topics as nanotechnology and MRI. In December 2010, Dr. Collini received the esteemed Hall of Fame award for lifelong support from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., from which his four sons graduated. Throughout his career, Dr. Collini remained a true patient advocate. He genuinely cared about the welfare of his patients, and a more compassionate physician has never existed. Dr. Collini's interests included national politics, current events, medicine and sports. He was a devout Catholic and member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., for 50 years. A devout family man, Dr. Collini met Cynthia Curzio, a registered nurse of Bellevue Hospital, while he was in medical school. They were married in 1955 and had four sons; Francis Jr., a plastic surgeon; Robert, a supreme court justice of Staten Island; Joseph, an attorney, and John, an optometrist. Francis Sr., was exceptionally proud of his four sons and loved them with every fiber of his body. They will miss him dearly. He was their hero. Dr. Collini is survived by his wife, Cynthia; his four sons; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Friends may call at Scarpaci Funeral Home, 1401 86th St., Brooklyn, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, 97th Street and 4th Ave., Brooklyn, at 11 a.m. Monday. Memorial donations may be sent to Community Cares for Kids, 113 N. Memorial Hwy., Shavertown, PA 18708; and/or National Right to Life, Attn: Development, 512 10th NW, Washington, D.C. 20004, of which Dr. Collini was a strong supporter.