Franklin Jew Chinn Jr.

Franklin J. Chinn, Jr., M.D., passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, at the age of 70. A fourth-generation Sacramentan, he was born on January 29, 1956, to Dr. Franklin and Lily Chinn, inheriting both a deep connection to his community and a legacy of service.

Frank graduated from Jesuit High School where he played varsity basketball. As a senior, he was awarded a congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Yet after careful reflection, he chose a different path. Believing his calling was in medicine, he declined the appointment so it could go to someone committed to a military career. It was a decision that quietly revealed the values that would guide the rest of his life.

He went on to earn his undergraduate degree from UC Davis and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. It was during his residency at Valley Medical Center in Fresno that Frank met Carol, a nurse. They married in Sacramento, returned home after his training, and built a family.

Frank began his career in his father’s medical practice, carrying on a family tradition. But as his own family grew, he stepped away from private practice and joined Mercy Medical Group, choosing a path that allowed him to be more present at home while continuing to care for his patients. There, he served his community for nearly four decades before retiring in 2021.

Frank found great pleasure in serving his community through medicine, but his greatest joy was his children. He was a constant presence at their games, meets, and competitions, from soccer fields to swim lanes, from basketball courts to rugby fields, and cheer events. He encouraged each of them to pursue their goals and was a constant source of support and inspiration. Frank was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his wife, Carol, and their children: Courtney Chinn M.D., Marissa Chinn M.D. (Landon, Esq.), Franklin Chinn III, and Nathaniel Chinn; his mother, Lily; his siblings, Susan Chinn Amaturo, M.D. (Lawrence), Bertram Chinn, M.D. (Margaret, Esq.), Norman Chinn, and Rebecca Chinn,

M.D. (Colin Spears, M.D.); and his nieces, Lauren and Lily Amaturo, Helen and Norah Chinn, and Abigail Spears. A funeral service will be held on April 10, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento, with a reception to follow at Ming Dynasty Restaurant. A private interment will precede the reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fremont Presbyterian Church, Jesuit High School, or California Northstate University College of Medicine. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to Frank’s caregivers and hospital staff for their dedication and compassionate care.