In Memoriam Cyril B. Frank, MD (1949-2015)
could have played professional football if he had the inclination. He coached his sons’ baseball teams and was as competitive as a coach as he was in his playing years. Cy was pre-deceased by his wife and soul mate, Joyce, in 2000. His two highly accomplished sons, Ryan and Tym, survive him. Ryan is a pediatric plastic surgeon practicing in Calgary and Tym, a final-year orthopaedic resident at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. His family life was private but his commitment and passion were ever present and always brought out his characteristic smile. He was a very proud father. ‘‘Cy found love and companionship with his partner, Helene Levesque, until his passing, and her two children, Lauren and Devon Plante, adored him.’’1 His older brother Geoff survives him. To me, Cy was the epitome of everything that a mentor could possibly be. Our paths crossed when I was a medical student and Cy a resident. He then taught me when I was his resident, and we practiced together for almost 25 years. Whether it was over a beer in the early days at the faculty club, over a glass of wine at conferences, or taking time out to get each other a coffee during a busy clinic, he was always there. He treated everyone with respect and gave them his time and genuine effort—as though they were the most important, not him. They say there is no ‘‘I’’ in team. With Cy, the ‘‘I’’ was for Inclusivity. Everyone was part of his team, and it was with Integrity that he did everything. I will miss my friend Cy Frank. I remember a word he used once or twice: ‘‘finisher.’’ He liked finishers, and wanted to recruit and support them. I know he is probably disappointed that he didn’t complete everything he started. Our challenge is to carry out his vision and finish it, not just for him but also for all he touched. I’ll end with a quote from the poem ‘‘If’’ by Rudyard Kipling. This poem epitomizes the man: ‘‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too. . . .’’ Read the rest when you have time, and remember Cy—the man, the husband, companion, father, teacher, scientist, inspirational leader, surgeon, mentor, and friend.
Cyril Frank, a member of the AJSM Editorial Board, passed away March 5, 2015, in Calgary. The following tribute was written by his colleague and fellow editorial board member Nicholas Mohtadi. Cy, as everyone would call him, was the consummate human being. Truly a one-ina-million individual who touched so many lives during his 65 years. He passed on a day he was scheduled to operate, reconstructing ACLs and scoping knees. His patients trusted and confided in him, and his skill as a surgeon was second to none. Yet, he was least known as surgeon. Imagine that someone so talented was to some just a basic science researcher or administrator. No doubt a reflection of his selfless humility. His obituary read ‘‘A trail-blazing orthopaedic surgeon, world-renowned researcher, tireless teacher, inspired innovator and ingenious visionary, he left a legacy of better medical practice, wiser public health policy, healthier research and more capable medical graduates.’’1 Cy was highly published, developed two patents, and was the founding visionary and developer of two institutes: The McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health and the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute. He received numerous local, national, and international awards and acclaims. In 2014 he was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadians. ‘‘At the time of his death, Cy was president and chief executive officer of Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions, Alberta’s leading health research and innovation organization, chief medical advisor to Alberta Bone and Joint Institute, the McCaig Professor of Joint Injury and Arthritis Research, University of Calgary, and was advising Canada’s health minister on how to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care.’’1 In his younger years, Cy was an accomplished baseball player. He had a rocket arm and was acknowledged to have hit it out of the park, measured at 450 feet. He did this with natural-born talent. His longtime school friend told me that he consistently punted a football 60 yards and
—Nick Mohtadi, MD, MSc, FRCSC University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre Calgary, Alberta, Canada REFERENCE 1. Cy Frank [obituary]. Calgary Herald. March 14-15, 2015.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 43, No. 5 DOI: 10.1177/0363546515584777 Ó 2015 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
1285
Copyright of American Journal of Sports Medicine is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
could have played professional football if he had the inclination. He coached his sons’ baseball teams and was as competitive as a coach as he was in his playing years. Cy was pre-deceased by his wife and soul mate, Joyce, in 2000. His two highly accomplished sons, Ryan and Tym, survive him. Ryan is a pediatric plastic surgeon practicing in Calgary and Tym, a final-year orthopaedic resident at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. His family life was private but his commitment and passion were ever present and always brought out his characteristic smile. He was a very proud father. ‘‘Cy found love and companionship with his partner, Helene Levesque, until his passing, and her two children, Lauren and Devon Plante, adored him.’’1 His older brother Geoff survives him. To me, Cy was the epitome of everything that a mentor could possibly be. Our paths crossed when I was a medical student and Cy a resident. He then taught me when I was his resident, and we practiced together for almost 25 years. Whether it was over a beer in the early days at the faculty club, over a glass of wine at conferences, or taking time out to get each other a coffee during a busy clinic, he was always there. He treated everyone with respect and gave them his time and genuine effort—as though they were the most important, not him. They say there is no ‘‘I’’ in team. With Cy, the ‘‘I’’ was for Inclusivity. Everyone was part of his team, and it was with Integrity that he did everything. I will miss my friend Cy Frank. I remember a word he used once or twice: ‘‘finisher.’’ He liked finishers, and wanted to recruit and support them. I know he is probably disappointed that he didn’t complete everything he started. Our challenge is to carry out his vision and finish it, not just for him but also for all he touched. I’ll end with a quote from the poem ‘‘If’’ by Rudyard Kipling. This poem epitomizes the man: ‘‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too. . . .’’ Read the rest when you have time, and remember Cy—the man, the husband, companion, father, teacher, scientist, inspirational leader, surgeon, mentor, and friend.
Cyril Frank, a member of the AJSM Editorial Board, passed away March 5, 2015, in Calgary. The following tribute was written by his colleague and fellow editorial board member Nicholas Mohtadi. Cy, as everyone would call him, was the consummate human being. Truly a one-ina-million individual who touched so many lives during his 65 years. He passed on a day he was scheduled to operate, reconstructing ACLs and scoping knees. His patients trusted and confided in him, and his skill as a surgeon was second to none. Yet, he was least known as surgeon. Imagine that someone so talented was to some just a basic science researcher or administrator. No doubt a reflection of his selfless humility. His obituary read ‘‘A trail-blazing orthopaedic surgeon, world-renowned researcher, tireless teacher, inspired innovator and ingenious visionary, he left a legacy of better medical practice, wiser public health policy, healthier research and more capable medical graduates.’’1 Cy was highly published, developed two patents, and was the founding visionary and developer of two institutes: The McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health and the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute. He received numerous local, national, and international awards and acclaims. In 2014 he was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadians. ‘‘At the time of his death, Cy was president and chief executive officer of Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions, Alberta’s leading health research and innovation organization, chief medical advisor to Alberta Bone and Joint Institute, the McCaig Professor of Joint Injury and Arthritis Research, University of Calgary, and was advising Canada’s health minister on how to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care.’’1 In his younger years, Cy was an accomplished baseball player. He had a rocket arm and was acknowledged to have hit it out of the park, measured at 450 feet. He did this with natural-born talent. His longtime school friend told me that he consistently punted a football 60 yards and
—Nick Mohtadi, MD, MSc, FRCSC University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre Calgary, Alberta, Canada REFERENCE 1. Cy Frank [obituary]. Calgary Herald. March 14-15, 2015.
The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 43, No. 5 DOI: 10.1177/0363546515584777 Ó 2015 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
1285
Copyright of American Journal of Sports Medicine is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
