Francis L. Miranda Jr.

Francis passed away peacefully in Dallas, Texas on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the age of 91. About a year earlier we learned he had a rare disease, Cardiac Amyloidosis, which would cause his heart to enlarge and eventually fail. He was the oldest person to have this disease; as a doctor this sparked his curiosity, and he joined an experimental study.

“Francis was a force that influenced everyone around him. He made us all more active and involved, for the better,” Dr. Jerry Smith.

Francis Jr. was born on September 23, 1933, to Francis Louis Miranda Sr and Mary Theresa (nee Riso/Panepinto) Miranda in Dallas, Texas. He attended Sacred Heart School. He graduated from Jesuit Dallas in 1952, where baseball was his main interest, and he received academic and baseball scholarships to Loyola University. After high school graduation he worked for Pro Jones at Dallas Country Club and the Athletic Shop in Highland Park. But when he arrived for summer school to get a head start on classes and practice with the baseball team he realized the competition for shortstop was steep, so he transitioned to tennis and was a natural, his scholarship was transferred to tennis.

He graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans, LA in 1955 with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry. While at Loyola he met his first wife, Beverly Gravois and his good friends Gus and Martha Menard. He enjoyed life and welcomed his first daughter Beverly Fawn on 23 October 1954. Unfortunately, Francis lost his wife Beverly in childbirth.

Francis returned to Dallas with his daughter and went to Dental school at Baylor College of Dentistry for his D.D.S. graduating in 1959. He met his second wife Ann Runyan in 1958 while working as an orderly at St Paul hospital. They were married in 1959 after graduation and headed to Fort Bliss El Paso for his 2-year stint in the army; they welcomed their first child Robert Paul better known as “Sam”. Trading active duty for reserve duty and retiring as a Major in the US Army in 1967.

Then a residency for Pediatric dentistry and M.S. in Biology at University of Missouri. They lived with Ann's parents in Paola, Kansas and by 1964 they had two more kids, William Louis and Sara Ann, and a specialty and M.S. in Biology. Then they returned to Dallas for a minute. But went back to New Orleans as Chairman, Dept. of Pedodontics, Loyola Univ. in New Orleans, LA. from 1964-1966. Good times with friends and extended family. Left in 1966, back to Dallas to set up home and private practice.

Tennis was still a big part of his life, T-M tennis club and competitive tennis. Francis enjoyed cars racing and prided himself on owning a few sports cars throughout his life. Later in life he became interested in fishing, enjoying fly fishing and red fish catching with his cousins in Louisiana.

He decided to become a dual specialist and enrolled in the Orthodontic program at Baylor. After completing that program in 1976, he went on to work on a Doctorate in Physiology at Baylor College of Dentistry, ultimately leaving that program in 1978 and completing a Doctorate of Education at UNT in 1990.

All the while practicing and lecturing. He practiced the combined specialties of Pedodontics and Orthodontics in Dallas; has lectured throughout the U.S. and Canada and published multiple journals and periodicals. He was an Associate Professor at Baylor College of Dentistry; Diplomat of the American Board of Pedodontics; Fellow of the American Academy of Pedodontics; as well as a member of the American Association of Orthodontists.

Francis volunteered at Children’s Hospital most Saturdays throughout his professional career. Francis worked for the Dallas Public Health Dept, worked with Down Syndrome children at the Terrell State Hospital and was a volunteer for Head Start.

“Dr. Francis Miranda was an energetic and thoughtful pediatric dentist and orthodontist who pushed his colleagues to think more deeply about what their growing patients needed. He always shared his treatment and management experiences to better those in his circle. He was disruptive to the status quo and strived to bring all along a journey of comprehensive care of our patients. This expressed itself in his leadership roles in the Southwest Society of Pediatric Dentistry and the founding of POGO Seminars. He has mentored countless dentists and was a cheerleader, confidant and accountability figure. Never shrinking back from a good discussion and having the courage to push his colleagues forward, he truly impacted generations of patients he never got to meet,” Dr. Jeffrey Rhodes.

He was intimately involved with the Southwest Society of Pediatric Dentist for his entire career acting in all positions including twice as president. He also developed a Continuing Education program.

In 1980 Francis started a CE company named POGO Seminars Inc. (Pediatric Orthodontics & Guidance of Occlusion) which he ran until he was 90. “We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities,” Walt Kelly.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Martin Peter (MP) and Domenica (Minnie) Miranda of Dallas and Peter and Josephine Panepinto of Plaquemine LA. His parents Francis Louis Miranda Sr and Mary Theresa Panepinto of Dallas. His wife Beverly Gravois Miranda of New Orleans and their daughter Beverly Fawn Miranda of Dallas.

He is survived by his wife Ann Runyan Miranda and three children, Sam, Bill and Sara all of Dallas, TX.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Francis to: Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas 12345 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75244 And SWSPD Southwest Society of Pediatric Dentists, a fund is being set up to be used for educational opportunities, awards and recognition in the field of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in memory of Dr. Francis Miranda. Donations by checks should be made out to SWSPD and sent c/o Sara Miranda, 7827 Midbury Dr. Dallas, TX 75230, while the fund is being set up.

The family wishes to thank the members of POGO Seminars, the Ousley, Smith and Tate families, Loren Adell, The Office Staff, Francis’ mentors Bob Gardner, Bob Morrow, Father Edwards, longtime friends Martha & Gus Menard, and his god sons Mike Panepinto and Mike Menard for a life well lived.

Fond memories and expression of sympathy may be shared at Calvary Hill Dallas for the Miranda Family.