DR. FRANCIS (FRANK) A. GIGLIO

1928-2017

88, was a first-generation Sicilian-American born on December 29, 1928, in Beaumont, Texas, to Charles S. Giglio and Antoinette Cuchia Giglio. He passed away on July 3, 2017, after a long period of illness. As Frank’s life would unfold it would be driven by three things: Faith, Family, and Fellowship.

A product of the Catholic School system, he was graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1946. He was a scholar and athlete in school and was a member of the St. Anthony High School baseball team which won the Beaumont City Baseball Championship in 1946, defeating all local public schools to take the trophy.

Frank attended the University of Texas-Austin and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1950. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch- Galveston in June 1955. Frank met his wife of 62 years, Marcia Frey Giglio, on the steps of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Galveston, and they were married there on June 25, 1955.

Graduation from medical school and his freshly minted marriage would be the starting point for a career as a OB/GYN doctor in the city of Beaumont. First, he would do an internship at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C from 1955 to 1956.

Frank joined the United States Army to meet his commitment for a college draft deferment and completed basic training at Fort Sam Houston in July 1956. He was assigned to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Fort Sill Army Hospital in Oklahoma for the remainder of his two years in the Army Medical Corp.

Frank and Marcia’s family would grow by two along the way. Joan Marie, born in Beaumont in 1956, and Suzanne, born at Fort Sill in 1958. When he completed his assignment at Fort Sill in 1958, the family would move to Birmingham, Alabama so Frank could complete a three-year OB/GYN residency at The University of Alabama Medical Center.

In August 1961, the family would return to Beaumont and Frank would begin solo practice with offices at Fertitta Clinic on Center Street. They lived with Frank’s parents on South Street for about one year. In 1963, Frank was offered an opportunity to join the faculty at the University of Alabama Medical Center- Birmingham as an assistant professor.

The family would move back to Birmingham and Frank taught medical students and studied for his OB/ GYN board certification. In May of 1964, Frank was certified by The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In January of 1965, Frank would move his family back to Beaumont to resume his private practice. At this time, Frank was the only OB/GYN in the area who had completed a residency in his field and received board certification as a specialist in the practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Over the next 35 years, Frank would serve the area as a preeminent OB/GYN. Frank was not satisfied with just practicing his profession, but advancing his profession. He would introduce the first fetal monitor to St. Elizabeth Hospital. Frank would be instrumental in establishing the first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Elizabeth so that premature babies would have a greater chance of survival.

Frank would invent a rectal suppository in 1974, and a urethral suppository in 1992 that were specifically designed for the female anatomy. He holds U.S. Patents on both devices.

He published scholarly articles in the official board publications, The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fertility and Sterility, and seven other national and international medical journals. He was asked to speak on these subjects at medical conferences in both the United States and Europe.

Frank continued to teach OB/GYN students by serving as a Clinical Assistant Professor for the University of Texas Medical Branch- Galveston throughout his career. Always believing we should help those that are less fortunate, Frank volunteered as the Liaison Director between UTMB and the Beaumont Medical Center- Indigent OB/GYN clinic.

Many times he would discover that an indigent woman, pregnant or not, would need a special operation that was necessary for her ongoing health. He would assemble a surgical team and do the procedure at St. Elizabeth. When it became apparent to other team members that this was a charity case, Frank would say, “Well, we are doing this one for Jesus.”

A gifted surgeon, Frank would practice his surgical technique at home prior to a case involving connection of the Fallopian tubes or tiny vessels. He would have Marcia cook spaghetti and then he would practice sewing pieces of pasta together, end to end.

Frank joined the Army Reserve after leaving the Army in 1958 rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was called to active duty during Operation Desert Storm in September 1990 and served as resident OB/GYN at Darnell Army Hospital at Fort Hood, Texas. He was dismissed to home in May 1991 and was the highest-ranking officer from Beaumont to serve during that operation. On July 11, 1991, Frank would be awarded The Army Commendation Medal- Eminently Meritorious Service for his service during Operation Desert Storm.

On July 1, 1999, Frank would retire from the practice of medicine. It was a bittersweet decision. He truly loved what he did.

Frank’s decision to become an obstetrician/gynecologist was not given over to chance. A doting mother, who lavished affection on her children, a father, who taught the value of hard work; and a church, which taught him the sanctity of a child in the womb, were the catalysts for this decision. His mother gave him a profound respect for motherhood. His father would model for him the work ethic and duty to family, his own and others, which would serve him well in his medical practice. His church would teach him that childbirth is a divine gift to not only the parents but to the community.

Dr. Frank Giglio was dedicated to delivering babies and tending to the health of women, the divine vessel of God’s Gift. So much so, that Frank became one of the first specialists in infertility in Beaumont. Frank was on the board of directors of Birthright of Beaumont, a childbirth advocacy group, and was honored by that organization on February 22, 2003.

Frank and Marcia’s family would get together and eat out after Sunday Mass and, most times, these meals would include all their children and grandchildren. Many times a woman would stand up, very excited, pointing at Frank and exclaim, “That’s Dr. Giglio. He got me pregnant!”. The family got used to these outbursts.

In his private time Frank, loved to have fun. He and Marcia traveled all over the world. They loved to include family and friends on these trips. Frank was an avid upland game bird hunter and made countless hunts with his childhood friend, Gene Hoiby, and others. He instilled a love of hunting to his grandchildren. Frank and Marcia were birders and incorporated birding in their travels.

Frank dearly loved the beach and he and Marcia had owned a beach house at Lafitte’s Landing since 1980. Even after the first house was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008, Frank rebuilt. He said there was nothing better than sitting on the deck of the beach house, with family and friends, and looking out over the Gulf of Mexico.

In the end, it was not so much about what Frank was doing but who he was doing it with. It was about fellowship. He liked nothing better than hosting people at his home. Whether it be formal or informal, he loved getting together with people, consuming good food and drink, and talking. A long-standing tradition at his home was to mix a pitcher of martinis on Friday afternoon and invite family and friends over to share the adventures of the, usually long, work week. It literally became known as Martini Night among those in the know and an invitation was much sought after.

Dr. Frank Giglio lived a life of faith, family, and fellowship. He worked hard at his profession because it was a passion and a calling rather than a job. Many groups gave him recognition and awards for his tireless devotion to helping create families through the miracle of childbirth. His many friends are the testament to his love of fellowship with them. But, perhaps, the greatest homage to a life built around family, faith, and fellowship is that bestowed by his daughters. Both Suzanne and Joan chose to be married on June 25th in honor of Frank and Marcia’s wedding day.

Dr. Frank A. Giglio was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Antoinette Giglio; and brothers, Sam Giglio; J.C. Giglio; and sister, Sister Julian (Joyce) Giglio, O.P.

He is survived by wife, Marcia Frey Giglio; Sister Catherine Giglio Morrison; daughter Joan Marie Giglio Kirkpatrick and husband, Michael; daughter Suzanne Giglio Peiler and husband, Christopher; all of Beaumont; five grandchildren, Stephen Baird and wife, Nicole, of Austin, Michael Peiler of Denver, Colorado, Helen Peiler of Beaumont, Andrew Peiler of Freeport, Texas, and Travis Kirkpatrick and wife, Kathleen, of Pflugerville, Texas; and many nephews and nieces.

A gathering of Dr. Giglio’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a Christian Vigil at 6:00 p.m., Friday, July 7, 2017, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 8, 2014, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson Street, Beaumont, with his interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont. Frank’s grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.

The family would like to express their thanks to Sam C. Parigi Jr., R.C. Parigi, and nephews, Charles Giglio and Mike Jenkins, for always taking time out of their more than busy schedules to help Frank and family during this time of need. Also, special thanks to the staff of Synergy Home Care, Texas Home Health, St. Elizabeth Hospital and Harbor Hospice staff for your loving care of Frank.

Those wishing to send memorial gifts are asked to consider St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson St, Beaumont, TX 77701, St. Anthony Catholic School, 850 Forsythe St, Beaumont, TX 77701, Birthright of Beaumont, Inc, 2626 Calder St, Beaumont, TX 77702, or Coastal Conservation Association, 6919 Portwest Dr, Ste 100 Houston, TX 77024.