Frank N. Hrisomalos MD

Frank Nick Hrisomalos, MD, age 86, passed away peacefully on Wednesday December 2, 2015 at IU Hospice House in Bloomington, Indiana, in the city of his birth, in the presence of his family and beloved wife Becky who selflessly cared for him day and night during his year and a half battle with cancer. He worked up until the day he fell ill. Frank was born April 1, 1929 to Nick and Katina Hrisomalos, from Rapsani and Larissa, Greece.

Frank spent his childhood growing-up in and around his parent’s establishment, Nick’s English Hut, which has now become a college institution as well as a city landmark. He spent his childhood as the only son of two Greek immigrants who came to America to start a better life and seek the American Dream. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1946, and then attended Purdue University, and was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, graduating with a pharmacy degree in 1951. He returned to Bloomington, Indiana and practiced pharmacy for a short while(at Brummett’s Pharmacy on Third Street) while at the same time taking classes at Indiana University to meet the requirements to apply to medical school. He married Athena ”Becky” Anton in 1954 at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend, Indiana, moved to Indianapolis and graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1957. He moved back to his hometown with his beautiful wife and two young children (which would soon grow to four) in tow and started his solo Family Medicine practice on Kirkwood Avenue- just a few blocks from their home-now “People’s Park”, with Nick’s being in between the two. He took care of patients seven days a week for 57 years, until he fell ill at work, necessitating his retirement grudgingly in 2014.He always said he would never stop working, but he finally had no choice. Roles reversed themselves, and the doctor became the patient. Over a career spanning 57 years, he saved lives, gave meaning to lives, and made a difference in so many lives.

Frank became the longest practicing physician in Monroe County and was very proud of that accomplishment. “Dr. Frank” as they would call him, began taking care of the grandchildren of patients he had actually delivered decades ago. He had a true love and tremendous enthusiasm for Medicine. He practiced during the grand days of the Family Practitioner-administering anesthetics before the subspecialty of anesthesia became further developed, and delivering thousands of babies, at all times of the day and night (even including one of his own daughters). He was exceedingly kind, dedicated, generous, wise and humble-he always wanted to talk about others, not himself. He sacrificed his own life and personal time to help others, and spent years on the Bloomington Public Board of Works, under several different Mayors, and the Director of Public Investment Corporation and Chairman of the Board for decades. He spent years as Director of many local nursing homes and had a special place in his heart for those patients. He believed in the dignity of all people, young and old. He was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash as well as becoming a Kentucky Colonel, and on his 80th birthday, celebrated in a place of great significance in his life, Nick’s English Hut, Mark Kruzan, Mayor of Bloomington proclaimed on April 1, 2009 “Dr. Frank Hrisomalos Day”. Frank had a passion for so many things- from the Arts to IU Athletics; he had a fantastic memory-his knowledge of history was remarkable; he inherited his love of property and investing from his father, who many years earlier with foresights had purchased the farm land where Frank would later build his family home-where he lived, entertained and enjoyed his family and friends since 1963.

Frank lived a magical and wonderful life, and left a legacy that will live on forever within all of us, and inspired all of his children to pursue the same passion of helping and healing.

He will always be here, inside of us all, until the end of time.

Frank is survived by his wife of 61 years, Athena ”Becky” Hrisomalos, sons Nick Hrisomalos (Joni), Tom Hrisomalos(Debbie), daughters Karen Hrisomalos(Gary Gettelfinger ), Elaine Coghlan(Kevin) and grandchildren Frank Hrisomalos, Emily Hrisomalos, Matthew Coghlan, Sarah Coghlan, Megan Coghlan, Nicholas Shirley, Alexandra Shirley, Addison Ahrendts, Olivia Gettelfinger, Christian Gettelfinger, Alex Jerden and Scott Jerden(Brittany). Preceding him in death were his father Nick Hrisomalos of Rapsani, Greece, his mother Katina Hrisomalos of Larissa, Greece, and his granddaughter Faith Coghlan of Bloomington, Indiana.

Visitation will be from 5pm until 9pm with a Trisagion Prayer Service at 8:45 pm on Sunday, December 6, and 10am until 12pm on Monday, December 7 at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E Rogers Rd. The Orthodox Christian Funeral Service will he held on Monday, December 7 at 12pm at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with Reverend Father Peter Jon Gillquist officiating. Burial will follow in Valhalla Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the All Saints Orthodox Church of Bloomington, Indiana 6004 S Fairfax Road Bloomington, Indiana 47401, or the IU Hospice House at Bloomingtonhospitalfoundation.org. Arrangements are under the direction of Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Sherwood Oaks Christian Church for allowing them to use their facilities for the Funeral Services.