Dr. Frank J. Travisano, 82, of Mechanicsburg, PA passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 4, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Frank was born on May 29, 1937 in Newark, NJ to the late Charles and Madeline (Buccino) Travisano. He attended Seton Hall Preparatory School and was awarded a track scholarship to the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Following his graduation from Johns Hopkins, Frank earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed subspecialty training in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, training under heart-bypass surgery pioneer Dr. Rene Favaloro, and coauthoring “Treatment of Infected Sternal Wound,” published in Cleveland Clinic Quarterly.
After serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, Frank moved to Harrisburg, PA to enter medical practice. It was over a gurney at Harrisburg Hospital that he met nurse Patricia “Patti” Krasevic, who was the love of his life.
At Harrisburg Hospital, Dr. Travisano was Chief of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He was Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill and held consulting surgical appointments at a number of hospitals throughout the greater Harrisburg area.
Additionally, Dr. Travisano was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Milton S. Hershey College of Medicine of the Pennsylvania State University and a founding partner of the Capital Area Cardiovascular Surgical Institute. He was also available to pop in a son’s dislocated kneecap, stitch up a son’s thumb, or remove a daughter in law’s stitches whenever the need arose.
Frank enjoyed flying his twin engine Cessna, skiing in Deer Valley, Utah, wintering in Naples, FL , working with Patti to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle and playing golf with friends whenever there was an opportunity. He loved old musicals (Oklahoma!), Penn State football, the New York Yankees, watching movies and listening to Frank Sinatra.
He is survived by Patti Travisano, his loving wife of 50 years; son Frank and grandchildren Frank and Lola of Thornwood, NY; son Michael, wife Aimee and grandson Jack of Mechanicsburg, PA; brother Charles and wife Mary Ann of Langhorne, PA; two nephews, several great nephews, great nieces and numerous cousins.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 10, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Neill Funeral Home, 3401 Market Street, Camp Hill, followed by a memorial service at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 4250 Crums Mill Road, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17112 or the American Lung Association, 3001 Gettysburg Rd, Camp Hill, PA 17011.
