Tibor Eugene Frekko

Tibby, as he was known by his close friends and relatives, was born in Manhattan, New York City during the Great Depression. The only child of a piano teacher and a bookkeeper, he grew up in a modest one-bedroom apartment on Franklin Avenue in Flushing, Queens. At an early age, Tibby became a standout student at P.S. 20 elementary school where he was skipped ahead two grades. He later attended Xavier High School, a Catholic Jesuit military high school for boys in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan excelling in the classroom and serving in the Junior ROTC. On the weekends, he studied music theory and piano at The Juilliard School and, in the summers, he attended a YMCA camp in upstate New York where he would later work as a horseback riding instructor. After graduating from Xavier, Tibby matriculated at Georgetown University at the age of 16, despite having never visited the school. It was in Washington, D.C., where he met Truda, raised his family, and made his home for the next 74 years.

At Georgetown, Tibby was an extremely diligent student and excelled at math and science. In his free time, he enjoyed attending Georgetown basketball games and served as the unofficial stat keeper. This experience sparked a lifelong passion for Georgetown basketball – there will never be a bigger Hoya hoops fan than Tibby Frekko. He graduated from Georgetown College in 1955 and was accepted into Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he graduated in 1959. He completed his medical training in General Practice at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C., in 1961. During his training, he enrolled in Georgetown Law at night and ultimately received his law degree in 1963, finishing first in his class in Contracts.

In 1969, Tibby was introduced to the love of his life, Truda Dearie, through his dearest cousin, Gene Frekko. The couple went on their first date to the Kennedy Center to see the famed Hungarian conductor Antal Dorati lead the National Symphony Orchestra. After a brief courtship, the two were wed in February 1970 and enjoyed 51 beautiful years of marriage together. Tibby and Truda soon moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland where they began to raise their family of five eternally grateful children, Matthew, Kathleen, Ann, Mary, and John.

It was at this time when Dr. Frekko opened his practice in Montgomery Village. He worked tirelessly for his patients, six days a week and rarely took vacation or personal days off to care for multiple generations of families in Montgomery County. He and Truda worked side-by-side for decades, where she was instrumental in supporting and growing the highly successful practice.

Over the years, Tibby and Truda became extremely involved in the schools their children attended, volunteering their time in many different capacities. Tibby served on the Board of Trustees at Holton-Arms School. Tibby and Truda were co-chairs of both the Williams College and Colgate University Parents Funds. They also served together on the Parents Council at Georgetown School of Medicine. Tibby served as Chairman of the Georgetown’s Medical Alumni Board and on the Board of Governors alumni association. After decades of loyal and dedicated service to his beloved alma mater, in 2006, Dr. Frekko was honored by Georgetown University with the prestigious John Carroll Award, which recognizes alumni whose achievements and record of service exemplify the ideals and traditions of Georgetown University and its founder. Believing that education was the key to success, Tibby and Truda established an endowed scholarship at Georgetown to provide financial aid for students in need to attend the Medical School.

Of all he accomplished in life, there was never a question of what brought Tibby the most pride and happiness – his family. Together, Tibby and Truda set an extraordinary example of love and partnership for their children, grandchildren, and their many friends. Some of the family’s greatest memories are of large gatherings on the back porch of Tibby’s cherished beach house in Henlopen Acres, sharing life updates, putting on talent shows, telling old stories, laughing, and supporting each other.

Tibby embodied the American Dream as a first generation American. He will forever remain a shining example to his family and friends of what can be accomplished in a single lifetime, especially when starting from such humble beginnings. He will be remembered for his incredible work ethic, dedication to family, intelligence, humor, loyalty, and humility. Tibby’s family and friends will miss him dearly.

Dr. Frekko is preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Frekko and Gizelle Csutak Frekko, and his wife, Gertrude Dearie Frekko. He is survived by his five children and spouses, Matthew and Katherine Frekko, Kathleen and Christopher Farrell, Ann and Christopher Raffo, Mary and Nicholas Kilavos, and John and Kelly Frekko, and his fifteen adoring grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Tibby and Truda to the Frekko Family Endowed Scholarship at Georgetown University School of Medicine: Gift Processing, Department Number 0734, Washington, DC 20073-0734, by calling Georgetown Gift Processing at 800-424-2795, or using the link: https://give.georgetown.edu/som.