Dr. Franklin H. Plotkin

PLOTKIN DR. FRANKLIN PLOTKIN, 89, died on Thursday, February 26, 2015, after a long and brave struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Plotkin, an internist, retired from private practice of medicine in 1999, after 43 years. Dr. Plotkin practiced internal medicine with Cleveland Physicians Inc. For most of those years, Dr. Plotkin practiced medicine with his twin brother, Chester Plotkin (who died in 2008). Dr. Frank and Dr. Chet, as they were known to their patients, were well known among Cleveland's doctors. "Dr. Frank" will be remembered by multiple generations of Cleveland families for his kindness, compassion and humor. For over 40 years, Dr. Plotkin was an Associate Clinical Professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine where he taught physical diagnosis and clinical medicine. He served as an Associate Physician at University Hospital and on the Courtesy Staff of Mt. Sinai Hospital. He was on the Life Sciences Advisory Committee for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Vice President of the Ohio Affiliate of the American Heart Association where he chaired the committee of public relations and community education. He was a member of the Founders' Committee of the University Suburban Medical Center and served on its first Board of Directors. Dr. Plotkin was a frequent speaker on cardiac health and he modeled his commitment to cardiac health through his passion for bicycling and other physical activity including tennis and skiing. He conducted research at the Jewish Community Center with Dr. Herman Hellerstein regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of rehabilitation of cardiac patients with diet, smoking cessation and supervised exercise. He was a medical consultant to the Social Security Administration's Court of Appeals for several years. Dr. Plotkin was an avid photographer, assembling a prodigious collection of albums from vacations with his family and travel with his wife Patricia and their friends. In his later years he took up and became talented at wood working. Dr. Plotkin was born in the Bronx, New York in 1925. He served in the Army during World War II with a military police unit in England and France. After military service, Dr. Plotkin graduated from the New York University were he was a Phi Beta Kappa and he received his medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine were he was an Alpha Omega Alpha. He did his internship and first year of residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland and completed residency in Internal Medicine at the Cleveland VA Hospital. Dr. Plotkin is survived by his beloved and devoted wife, Patricia (nee Hess), to whom he was married for over 61 years. He is also survived by his son, John (Kimberly) Plotkin, his daughter, Dr. Elizabeth Ann (Richard Spore) Plotkin and the late Dr. Kenneth (Carol) Plotkin. He also leaves eight grieving grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Alec, Natalie and Lily Plotkin, Jessica, Brooke and Eric Rich-Plotkin and Brittan and Jarret Sutphin. Dear brother of the late Dr. Chester Plotkin, Edward Plotkin and Beatrice Fruchtman. Services will be held SUNDAY, MARCH 8 AT 5 P.M. AT THE TEMPLE-TIFERETH ISRAEL, 26000 SHAKER BLVD., BEACHWOOD, OH 44122. Family will receive friends following services at The Temple UNTIL 7:30 P.M. Donations in Dr. Plotkin's memory can be made to the Chester and Franklin Plotkin Lectureship Fund, Temple-Tifereth Israel, 26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood 44122 or Shaking With Laughter (to further research on Parkinson's Disease through the Michael J. Fox Foundation), 2683 W. St. James Pkwy., Cleveland Hts., OH 44106.