Frank Merlino, MD.

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Frank Merlino, MD., 93, of Buttonwoods Ave., Warwick died November 18, 2017, after self-diagnosing his afib, but uncharacteristically, misdiagnosing an unrelated complication. For 59 years, he was the beloved husband of Mary Ellen (Murtagh) Merlino, who he lovingly cared for until her death in 2010.

Frank was born in Providence, the son of John and Clara (DiPrete) Merlino. He grew up on Federal Hill. Frank graduated from Classical High School and attended Brown University before completing medical school at Tufts University. He was a Captain in the United States Navy tending to the needs of injured soldiers during the Korean War. Franks’s loves, in no special order, were baseball, needlepoint, reading, crossword puzzles, his church, his six sons, his six daughter-in-laws, his twelve grandchildren, and breakfast at Buttonwoods Fish and Chips. He was thankful for his family and friends and, after a long wait, three world series wins by the Sox. He is now thankful that nobody is bothering him to wear his medical alert bracelet or try out hearing aids. Dr. Merlino was the second board certified cardiologist in the state, and practiced at RI Hospital for over 35 years. He was the President of the Medical staff of the hospital from 1972 to 1973.

Frank is survived by his six sons, and their wives: John and Melissa of Atlanta, GA, Mark and Bobbie of Washington, DC, Matthew and Debora of Sandy Springs, GA, Andrew and Lynne of Dallas, TX, Frank and Hike of Warwick, Paul and Kia of Atlanta, GA, and his 12 grandchildren. Frank was predeceased by his son Francis and his daughter, Maribeth. He is also survived by his sister Anne Salvadore, his sister-in-law Etta, and predeceased by his sister Claire Grande, and his brother John.

His funeral will be held Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 8:45 a.m. from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Clement Church, Long St. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to Nursing Education, RI Hospital Foundation, PO Box H., Providence, RI 02901 will be appreciated. Information and condolences at TheQuinnFuneralHome.com