Francis Leo Valcour

Dr. Francis Leo Valcour peacefully passed away in his San Antonio home on November 19, 2021. Frank was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Henry Charles Valcour and Gertrude Mallette. He had 4 siblings -- two sisters and two brothers. The family lived in Winchester, a suburb of Boston, and summered in Ipswich on the ocean, north of Boston. Frank loved Ipswich, the ocean, and boats. He and his wife of 59 years, Maureen, had two children, Rachel Ann and James Henry.

Frank attended The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. Degree in Chemistry. The following year, he and a classmate, Jim Wellehan from Maine, traveled to Basutoland, now Lesotho, to teach school for a year. After their missionary work was through, they hitchhiked across South Africa towards the Union-Castle Line ship in Capetown, for a 14-day journey to Southampton, England. Frank happened to board the same ship that Maureen and her friends were traveling on.

Frank and Maureen were attracted to each other, and spent time in London together after the journey. They saw a performance of "The Music Man", went to Kew Gardens, and celebrated The 4th of July, 1961, with a picnic along The Thames River. After their time in London, Frank and Maureen parted ways. Frank and Jim continued their journey on Vespa Scooters to Denmark and places North. Maureen and her friends went to France and several other European countries in a car theyd bought.

After several months apart, Frank and Maureen reunited in London for Christmas in 1961. Maureens widowed mother, her sister, and her brother made the trip to London as well. Maureens mother was a physician, and was on a sabbatical year at the Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital in London. Frank had returned to London this Christmas to meet Maureens family, and to ask her mother for Maureens hand in marriage. After enjoying a wonderful holiday together, Frank returned to Boston to complete his studies.

Frank attended the Harvard School of Education to obtain a Masters Degree in Education. At the time, it was required that men serve in the military. Frank chose to join the Navy and attended Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island. He graduated towards the end of October in 1962. Frank and Maureen were set to be married back in London after his graduation from OCS. Sadly, due to The Cuban Missile Crisis, all military leave was cancelled. Not deterred, Maureen and her sister, Lynn, flew to Boston. Three days later, on Halloween in 1962, Frank and Maureen were married at a small gathering.

After the wedding, Frank was given a three-year assignment with the Navy in Pearl Harbor. Frank and Maureen lived on a boat in Waikiki Yacht Harbor. Their daughter, Rachel, was born during one of Franks Navy voyages at sea. Frank returned to Waikiki some time after Rachel was born, then went back out to sea. Once again, while he was away, their second child, James, was born. James was a blue baby and had significant heart problems throughout his life. He died as a young adult in 1995 at the age of 30.

After their time in Hawaii, the family settled in the Washington, DC area so Frank could attend medical school. Frank ultimately graduated from Georgetown University Medical School with a specialization in Psychiatry. They lived there for over 50 years, with the exception of a year in San Leandro, California, where Frank interned at Oakland Naval Hospital.

Frank truly lived his Catholic faith. Frank and Maureen were active members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and School in Bethesda, Maryland. They served as coordinators for the parish RENEW program and were instrumental in leading Marriage Encounter for the archdiocese in the area. They presented twenty-two weekends, and were on the first team that brought Marriage Encounter to the African continent in 1978. Among other activities, Frank was a member of the parish council and a member of the Lourdes First Friday Mens Group which still meets today.

Frank also lived his faith as a psychiatrist. As the Medical Director of the St. Luke Institute in Washington, DC, Frank treated many priests and religious, and was recognized for his faith-filled work with the Papal honor of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ("For Church and Pontiff") medal. It was said that Frank not only offered his considerable talent as a psychiatrist, but that his own spirituality and dedication to the faith added to the Catholic identity of the institution. Frank assisted many priests and religious in treatment and believed that their vocations were worth saving. In describing his work at his retirement, Frank said, "In my own specialty, psychiatry, we are asked to enter the human mind and heart and look around, and we should do so with reverence and concern. What a Privilege!"

Although Frank retired from his psychiatry practice in 2003, that didnt end his practice of medicine. Through a global medical placement agency, he accepted two six-month assignments overseas: one in Christchurch, New Zealand, and one in Australia on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. He and Maureen loved the experience, especially in New Zealand. Since then, they have gone on several Road Scholar trips, including through the Panama and Suez Canals, and to national parks in Utah, and Italy. They were accompanied by their daughter, her husband George, and their children, on a family trip to Italy Rome, Venice and Florence. The family also traveled together to South Africa and Hawaii on truly memorable trips. Frank and Maureens last overseas trip was a cruise around the British Isles with dear friends in the fall of 2019.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Mary & Isabel and his son James. He is survived by his wife Maureen, his daughter Rachel and his son-in-law George, his four grandchildren (Alexander, Max, Sydney and Marina) as well as his brothers and sisters-in-laws Hank Valcour (Margaret) and Paul Valcour (Patsy) along with numerous nieces and nephews.

FUNERAL MASS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021

10:00 AM

OUR LADY OF GRACE CATHOLIC CHURCH

223 E. SUMMIT AVE., SAN ANTONIO, TX 78212

MEMORIAL MASS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

10:00 AM

OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH

7500 Pearl St, Bethesda, MD 20814

In lieu of flowers, friends are requested to donate to the charity of their choice.