Eric H. Franks
Eric brought his many talents to us from Baltimore and was an inspiration to us all. His hard work was well complemented by his proficiency in partying. - Howitzer '78
- Lacrosse 4,3
- Russian Club 3,2,1
- Engineering Club 3,2,1
Obituary
Eric H. Franks, MD, 68, of Salisbury passed away Friday, May 17, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He had battled cancer for more than five years.
Dr. Franks was a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a board certified orthopedic surgeon who specialized in sports medicine.
Eric was born on March 3, 1956, at Camp Kure, Japan, to the late Lawrence and Roberta (Howard) Franks. He grew up in a large and close-knit family with four siblings: Bob, Randy, Liese, and Candy. He attended Calvert Hall College High School where he met Robin, his high school sweetheart and bride to be, before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. Eric and Robin married in 1978 and were deployed across the US while Eric served as an Army officer in Air Defense prior to having their two children, Ricky and Erica.
Eric pursued his passion for medicine and graduated from the George Washington University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, his internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and a fellowship in Orthopedics at Hughston Clinic in Columbus, Georgia. He served in the Army as an Orthopedic Surgeon in Panama and Ft. Benning, Georgia.
He transitioned to private practice in 1996 and in 1998 joined Peninsula Orthopedic Associates as a partner in Salisbury, Maryland. He specialized in Sports Medicine and was instrumental in many Orthopedic advances on the Eastern Shore. He performed the first cartilage replacement surgery in 2000 and was an expert in arthroscopic techniques. He was an active member of the Eastern Shore community and served as the team physician for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), Salisbury University, Delmarva Shorebirds, and Wicomico County Schools. He also mentored local physician assistants, athletic trainers, and UMES physical therapy students and taught advanced surgery techniques nationally through his role as a Master Instructor for the Arthroscopy Association of North America.
Eric was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law grandfather, family man and friend who touched the lives of many people with his kindness, generosity, humor, and wisdom. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, baking bread, gardening, traveling in the RV, and listening to the Grateful Dead. He was an avid fan of the West Point athletics - Beat Navy! He loved spending time with his family, especially his two grandchildren, Walker and Isabella, who adored him.
Eric is survived by his wife Robin of 46 years, his son Ricky Franks, daughter Erica Wade (Taylor), grandson Walker Wade, granddaughter Isabella Wade, brother Bob Franks (Susan), brother Randy Franks (Cindy), sister Liese Clift (Bill), and sister Candy Starstrom (Greg). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Roberta Franks.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 24, 2024, in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 535 Riverside Drive, Salisbury, Maryland. The family will receive friends from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM in the church. Interment will follow at a later date at the West Point Cemetery columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802 or via the “Donate Now” button on their website, coastalhospice.org.
