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(Circulation Research. 2000;86:823.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.

Editorials

In Memoriam

Francis X. Witkowski

Stephen L. Archer

From the Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Correspondence to Stephen L. Archer, MD, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 8440 112th St (WMC 2C2.36), Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada. E-mail sarcher@CHA.ab.ca

	Introduction

 
Frank Witkowski, a valued member of the Editorial Board of Circulation Research, died suddenly and prematurely on December 17, 1999, at the age of 53. Frank is survived by his wife, Dr Patricia Penkoske, and his three beloved daughters, Chloe, Elizabeth, and Olivia.

View larger version (110K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Dr Francis Xavier Witkowski, FACC, FRCP(C), Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research Group, University of Alberta. October 28, 1947–December 17, 1999.

Frank was born in Brooklyn, New York. In 1969, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Manhattan College, Bronx, New York, followed by a master’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Frank had a pedigree quite distinct from that of most physicians. He was a member of Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering Honor Society), Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), and Sigma Pi (Physics Honor Society). In 1978, Frank obtained a medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, where he subsequently trained in medicine and cardiology.

In 1984, he and Pat moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, he as an assistant professor of medicine (cardiology) and she as a cardiovascular surgeon. Frank and Pat adopted Canada as their home. With funding from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Frank began a lifelong pursuit of the mechanisms of ventricular fibrillation. His work for Raytheon on missile guidance systems would soon be applied to the design of ever-faster optical mapping systems. He will be remembered internationally for his original contributions to the study of the mechanisms of ventricular . . . [Full Text of this Article]