Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Spring 2020 - 31

M e d i c a l R ec o r d F e a t u r e

In Memoriam

Jeffrey B. Frank, M.D.
William H. Lord, M.D.
by Peter F. Schnatz, DO, and Mark
B. Woodland, MS, MD, FACOG
Dr Jeffrey B. Frank, M.D., a long-time member of the
medical staff of Reading Hospital/Tower Health, died at
age 73 on Friday morning, November 29, 2019. Dr. Frank
was an active member of the medical community and the
Department of OB GYN for over 40 years. Jeff and his wife
Deborah (Linker) Frank had been married for 51 years. He
was born in Philadelphia and has 3 children (Joshua, Noah
and Laura Frank) and 5 grandchildren.
His son Joshua described him as someone different to
everyone; a colleague, a friend, a coach, a mentor, a father
figure, and a member of the Reading Hospital medical staff.
However, the one thing that is evident to all those who were
lucky enough to know him, he was a very special person. His
passion, opinions and voice will be remembered.
At the Reading Hospital, Dr. Frank worked for many
years with the Women's Clinic. He also served as a volunteer
faculty for the ObGyn Department and was one of the
volunteer residency program directors. Jeff loved caring for
women in Berks County and loved being in the operating
room. He will be missed dearly by his family, his friends, his
patients, and the medical community.

by Michael Baxter, M.D.,
Former Chair, Dept. of Family
and Community Medicine
Reading Hospital
Bill Lord's life was a tour de force. His reputation as a
consummate Family Physician was well known to me even
before our first meeting. "He could and did it all" I was
told. From office surgical procedures to general medical care,
his skills were acclaimed and when we first met I was not
disappointed. Bill's personality was defined by enthusiasm
and self-confidence. I don't think I ever had an argument
with Bill, which was fortunate for if I had I suspect I would
have lost.

Early in my career as Family Medicine Residency Program
Director, each summer Bill and his wife Barbara would
invite the residents and faculty to their lovely home on Lake
Wynonah. There he taught my then 10-year-old son how to
water ski and steer a power boat. He showed just as much
enthusiasm at those tasks as he did with all other aspects of
life. Bill was always athletic, water skiing and playing an
accomplished game of tennis. It was hard for me to realize
that he graduated from medical school before I got out of
grade school. He was active in his community in the Masonic
Lodge, Boy Scouts and as a Board member of the Berks Visiting
Nurse Association as well as his professional organizations, in
particular, the Berks County Medical Society and the American
Academy of Family Physicians.
Later, as the years passed and time took its toll on Bill's
health, he continued somehow to maintain an energetic spirit
which amazed me. I would visit him in the hospital when he
had a relapse or see him at the Reading Symphony, where he
was a fixture for many years, and he would continue to greet me
with a warm smile and a hearty "How are you Mike?"
Bill was a true Reading native, graduating from Reading
High and then Albright College before attending Temple
University School of Medicine, where he graduated as a member
of the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary society in 1960. He
completed his internship at Reading Hospital and served as a
Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy before returning home to
practice Family Medicine in Laureldale for over 50 years. He
was married to Barbara (always at his side in those latter years)
for 54 years and they raised two sons, David and Steven.
I have often said that my own career stood on the shoulders
of the generations of Family Physicians that preceded me. With
a fraction of the tools we have today, they provided a high level
of care to this community with wisdom and skill. Bill was one
of the best representatives of his generation. He will be missed,
but he will be remembered with great pride and affection.

SPRING 2020

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Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Berks County Medical Society Medical Record Spring 2020
