Francisco Caliwara Tejada Jr.

Francisco Tejada Jr., M.D., (aka Frank, Paquito, Junior), of Troy, IL passed away peacefully at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at the age of 96 surrounded by his wife of 68 years, Victorina “Betty” Tejada, his children and grandchildren.

Frank was born in the Philippines. He attended the University of Santo Tomas School of Medicine graduating in 1956 and immigrated to the United States soon thereafter. After completing his medical training in Chicago and Mt. Vernon, IL, Frank and Betty moved to Collinsville, IL where he established his medical practice of 40 years, retiring in 1995.

Frank and Betty met at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago and were married at Chicago's Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. Post retirement, each weekend the Tejadas would dance to their heart’s content at various ballrooms in the area – making new friends and enjoying the partnership they both had. The highlight of their dancing “career” was a featured performance at the Independence Center's annual “Dancing with the St. Louis Stars” benefit in 2011, at the age of 80-years-young.

Frank is also an author of 10 novels and resurrected his love for painting.

He is survived by his wife, Betty and their 6 children: Alice (Diane Smith), Richard (Rita Buenaventura), Caroline Peltes (Terry), Bob (Cindy Medina), Betsy Thomas (Tony) and Raul (DJ Harris); 10 grandchildren Jared (Jennifer Tucker), Tyler (Krista Catanzaro), Rachel (Leigh McLaughlin), Blake (Erin McGinnis), Maya Carothers (Ethan), Reyn (Franci Abarca), Eric (Amy Kuehn), Sydney (Aric Crehan), Emma and Mary Rose; 4 great grandchildren – Isla, Indy, Levi and Xavier.

A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation or the American Diabetes Association in Frank’s memory. As a kidney transplant recipient and, grateful 26-year transplant survivor, Frank knew firsthand the precious gift of life and the profound impact of organ donation.

Frank’s National Kidney Foundation memorial page: https://kidneytribute.rallybound.org/FrankTejada

Frank’s American Diabetes Association memorial page: https://diy-diabetes.donordrive.com/campaigns/FrankTejada