Richard Frank, 81, dies

Columbus, OH — Richard Arthur Frank, DVM, 81, died Jan. 24, 2021, at the Home of the Good Shepherd at Highpointe in Malta, after a short illness.

Born in Middletown, N.Y., on June 27, 1939, a son of the late Joseph A. Frank and Helen Fitzgerald Baummer, he was raised in Goshen, N.Y., and graduated high school from Goshen Central High School. He attended Paul Smith’s College and received his bachelor’s at Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He went on to become a Doctor of Veterinary Science after graduating in 1964 from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

An equine veterinarian most of his career, he was dedicated to serving the needs of the horse owners and trainers at the Saratoga Harness Track and surrounding area for more than 50 years. He was inducted into the Saratoga Harness Racing Hall of Fame & Museum in 2015.

He was a lifetime member of many professional organizations and was always reading and attending conferences to stay up to date in his profession.

Affectionately known as “Doc Frank,” he had a warm, caring, and generous heart and was well loved by many.

He loved the outdoors and when not working, loved to fly his Cessna, hunt, photograph wildlife, work on his elaborate model train sets, and spend quality time with his family on the farm.

A loving and devoted husband and father, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Beverly Stevens Frank, whom he married Nov. 21, 1964; daughters, Kathleen (Alexander) Gonzalez and Cheryl (Benjamin) Sullivan; son, Gregory Arthur; and grandchildren, Sean Gonzalez, Chloe Gonzalez, Kyley Sullivan, Kyleigh and Sydney.

The family wants to thank The Home of the Good Shepherd at Highpointe in Malta and The Community Hospice of Saratoga County for the love and care given to him while a resident and also all the friends who have walked this journey with us.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later time when it is safe to do so.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.lbda.org/donate/) or 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047, the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association, P.O. Box 171, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, or The Community Hospice of Saratoga County, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, in memory of Richard “Doc” Frank.

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