Dr. Francisco (Frank) del Valle, affectionately known to many as Dr. D, passed away on December 3, 2022 at home surrounded by family. He was 90 years young. Frank was born on April 1st, 1932 to Francisco and Francisca Elvira del Valle in Zulueta, Villa Clara, Cuba. Frank successfully completed his Bachelor of Science and pre-med education at Havana University, Cuba, while also competing as a featherweight boxer. He pursued his doctorate at Madrid University Medical School, Spain. After earning his doctorate, and with the advice of his father, Frank immigrated to the the United States in 1959 and held residencies at The Lutheran Deaconess Hospital, Chicago; Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia; Sinai Hospital of Detroit; and his fellowship in Cardiopulmonary Diseases at Herman Kiefer Hospital, Detroit. It was with great pride he became a US citizen in 1964. He started his career practicing internal medicine in Michigan and retired as the Medical Director for Exxon/Mobil in Dallas, Texas in 2001.
Frank had a magnetic personality that allowed him to make friends wherever he went. He had a genuine way of making those around him feel special and appreciated so that they made time to get to know him better. Frank made everyone he met laugh with his stories about growing up in Cuba and learning English while working on his residencies in the United States. During their nearly 24 years together, Frank and his wife, Cindy, enjoyed international travel and weeks at the beach. Frank had a strong green thumb which led to many “Best Yard in the Neighborhood” awards when he and Cindy lived in Lone Star Ranch in Frisco, Texas. After this, Frank and Cindy’s joint love for the beach led them to reside five years in sunny Florida before returning to Frisco where they lived out his last years in Frisco Lakes. It was here, with his affinity for Cuban music, that Frank danced until the very end of his journey with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Though Frank’s life was full to the brim with his various pursuits and passions, he was always full of love for his wife and family. He was especially proud of his seven children and five grandchildren. To them he was known as Frankie, Dad, Papa, Pops, Cubano, and Grandpa.
In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his daughter, Michelle del Valle, and his sisters, Rosa Viña and Beatriz Arevalo. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Reeves del Valle, who will hold his memory close to her heart the rest of her days. His surviving children, Lisa Phillips and husband Tom, Chris del Valle and wife Amy, Anne Wood and husband Bob, Beth del Valle, Natasha Castillo and husband Sam, Bridget Sticker and wife Carol will miss him greatly. Frank was a fun and wonderful grandfather to Nicole and Michael Demmin, Kelsey del Valle, Fernando Clark, and Aiden Castillo. And he always held a special place for his niece, Beatriz Mann, and his nephew, Carlos Arevalo.
Frank chose a water cremation provided by Green Cremation Texas. In the absence of a service, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as he did every year of his life.
