Past President of Mass Medical Society, Beloved Physician and Devoted Father

Dr. Francis X. Van Houten passed away early in the morning of Sunday, April 30th, at his home in Concord, Massachusetts, at the age of 83. Known to everyone who loved him as Rusty, Dr. Van Houten persevered over poverty and formidable adversity to lead an extraordinary life, both personally and professionally.

Adopted at birth in West Nyack,

New York, Rusty was abandoned by his adoptive father early in his childhood and became orphaned again during high school in Peekskill, New York, when his adoptive mother passed away from a long battle with cancer. He adored her immensely and it was her struggle with cancer that ultimately led Rusty to choose his career path as a physician. Upon her death, Rusty was provided shelter by kind neighbors, the Dorseys, who, already providing for six children of their own, allowed him to live in their attic until he left for college.

Rusty was always grateful to the Catholic clergy who provided him access to an education that he otherwise could not afford. This generosity first started at Stepinac

High School where he traveled 60 miles round trip each day to earn his diploma. Unfortunately, the proximity of the school derailed his career in organized sports as he was forced to give up playing basketball in high school because he could not continue to endure hitchhiking home 30 miles in the dark after practice. Undeterred by a lack of opportunity, Rusty was an active sportsman throughout his life. Despite being thwarted from playing basketball in high school, Rusty managed to become quite a strong pick-up hoops player, enjoying the sport well into his forties. In addition to an unstoppable “old school” hook shot, Rusty’s game was differentiated by his robust mane of red curly hair, Larry Bird tube socks, shorts that were just slightly too short, and Kurt Rambis-style coke-bottle glasses.

Rusty’s life was also enhanced by his joy for the game of golf. Despite maintaining multiple part-time jobs as a youth, including working as a “soda jerk” and pharmacist’s assistant filling prescriptions in Peekskill’s local drug store, he learned to play golf as caddie at a local course in upstate

New York, borrowing clubs from the generous member who was his regular “loop.” His passion for golf lasted until just recently when Multiple Sclerosis made playing impossible. With typical aplomb, Rusty recently quipped, “Seventy years of golf was enough.”

After graduating from high school with honors, Rusty attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester where he was supported by a scholarship sponsored by Union Carbide. He recently remarked how grateful he was that the company continued to support his scholarship even after he chose to change his career path from engineering to premed. At Holy Cross, Rusty excelled as a member of the Purple Key Society, associate editor of the yearbook, president of the Biology Society, and member of the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu. It was at Holy Cross where Rusty met the love of his life, Marjorie Fiorentino, an undergraduate student at the nearby Elms College for Women, on his third blind date of the weekend. The phrase “third time’s the charm” was particularly true in this case as they married shortly after graduation and had a wonderful life together for over 55 years.

Ultimately, the Jesuits at Georgetown University and its medical school enabled Rusty to become a physician where he graduated cum laude and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. Immediately following graduation from Georgetown Medical School, Rusty started his internship at the University of Pittsburgh where he developed an interest in Radiology, especially angiography and radioisotope work.

After completing his internship at the University of Pittsburgh, Rusty joined the Navy where he served as a medical officer, including seven months aboard a destroyer division bound for Vietnam. While in the

Gulf of Tonkin, he volunteered to go ashore at Chu Lai as part of a

MASH unit where he spent six weeks at the Marines’ 1st Hospital Co.

During his tenure with the fleet, he circumnavigated the globe, passing through both the Suez and Panama Canals. Rusty recently regaled his grandchildren with a story of being “the original Netflix” during his stint in the Navy. His grandchildren’s jaws dropped as Rusty described zip-lining over 17 times from one Naval destroyer to another, both traveling at full speed in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to deliver both medical care and a fresh stock of movie reels to other ships in the fleet. While Rusty rarely talked about himself, his stories, like this one, were always delivered with understated subtlety, yet would often reveal glimpses of Rusty’s remarkable and inspiring life.

After his Naval service, Rusty embarked on his residency in Internal Medicine at Peter Bent Brigham hospital in Boston before pursuing Radiology in private practice. He was always very grateful for the wonderful group of colleagues who became lifelong friends in his Concord Radiologists practice and at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, where he also served as Chief of Staff. Always a strong ally to and advocate for women in the workplace, Rusty often spoke about how thrilled he was that their practice group evolved over the years to having women outnumber the original all male team that started the practice.

With a career spanning over three decades in Radiology, Rusty witnessed many technological breakthroughs in the field, including the commercialization of CT Scans, MRIs and nuclear medicine. Always ahead of his time, Rusty was an early adopter of “work from home.” Long before anyone had heard of the internet, Rusty set up technology that enabled him to read an X-ray transmitted through an analog line while sitting in his home office wearing his PJs. Beyond his core medical practice, Rusty’s relentless commitment to healthcare policy and advocacy initiatives led him to get involved in the Massachusetts Medical Society, where he ultimately served as its President and a Massachusetts delegate to the American Medical Association.

Despite not having a positive male role model early in his life,

Rusty exceled as one as an adult. He exemplified self-reliance, hard work and selfless service to others. He was the most loving of fathers, the most supportive of husbands, and the most caring of friends.

Many of his professional colleagues have credited Rusty’s mentorship as a critical contributor to their professional success. The wonderful life Rusty built for himself and his family was remarkable for anyone, but particularly extraordinary given his modest roots – growing up very much alone in the world and facing a myriad of adversities. Furthermore, Rusty was always proactive in giving back. Beyond his extensive service to the medical field and healthcare, Rusty and his beloved wife, Marge, were extensively involved in the Massachusetts MS Society in support of their daughter Karen’s valiant fight against the disease and later Rusty’s brave determination to live a full life despite the toll the disease also took on him later in life. Rusty also established scholarships to support students in need of financial aid at both Holy Cross College and Georgetown University Medical School.

In his final years, Rusty remained dauntless through several significant health challenges and the tragic loss of his daughter, Karen, followed by the love of his life and wife, Marge. After their passing, Rusty remained strong, relentlessly positive, and active despite being faced with both Multiple Sclerosis and two brain tumors. Most days, he enjoyed “Geezer Golf,” fishing (but not much catching) with his buds at Musketaquid Pond, recumbent biking a surprising 10 miles very deliberately each day at the gym, plowing through epic historical novels like they were snacks, meeting his many good friends for dinner, and conversations with his best friend,

Ann, with whom he shared a love of politics. A man who appreciated a good routine, Rusty closed each evening with a cigar, a glass of cabernet, two Tate’s oatmeal cookies, and Lester Holt’s evening news show in his favorite chair.

Rusty is survived by a family who adored and admired him beyond words, including his sons, Paul and Scott Van Houten; his son-in-law, Tom Flynn; his daughter-in-law, Christina Van Houten; and his grandchildren, Will, Jack, Rowan, and Turner Van Houten. He will be profoundly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him and admired forever as an exceptional role model, loving husband, giving father, brilliant physician, caring friend, good listener, and favorite golf buddy.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass on Wednesday, May 17th at 10 am in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord Center. A private Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and a Celebration of his Life open to everyone will take place at Concord Country Club following the services.

Concord’s town flag will fly at halfstaff on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 in recognition of Rusty’s honorable service in the United States Navy.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations be made to Georgetown University for the Van Houten Family Endowed Scholarship Fund in the School of Medicine. Please visit giving.georgetown.edu for gift instructions or contact Jim Warycha at 202-360-9297 or jim.warycha@georgetown.edu

For his online guestbook and church livestream link, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com

Dee Funeral Home of Concord 978-369-2030 Caring for families since 1868