Francis J. Bednarek

HOLDEN – Francis J. Bednarek, MD, 68, Chief of Neonatology at UMass Memorial Healthcare, died unexpectedly on Monday, July 15, 2013, while vacationing at his summer home in Harwich. Born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Frank was the son of Francis J. and Irene (Borowski) Bednarek, and lived in Holden for 30 years.

He is survived and will be lovingly missed by his wife of 34 years, Sharon Marie (Head) Bednarek; three sons, David F. Bednarek and his wife Diane of North Hampton, NH, Brian J. Bednarek and his wife Sophie of Portsmouth, NH and Erik J. Bednarek and his wife Melanie of Mansfield; two daughters, Erin Marie Bednarek and her husband Noah Gardner of Foxborough and Meghan Marie Bednarek of Boston; five grandchildren, Luke, Skyler, Aidan, Addison and Thomas; a sister, Barbara Ternosky of Pennsylvania; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his son, Christopher Ryan Bednarek, in 1985.

Frank graduated cum laude from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and received his medical degree from the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. His postgraduate training in pediatrics at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan was followed by his entrance into an additional training fellowship in the new, emerging field of neonatology at the Holden Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery at the University of Michigan Medical Center.

Following graduation from fellowship, Frank met and interviewed with Dr. Braden Griffin, and then was hired as the co-chief of the recently established Neonatology division at Memorial Hospital (now UMassMemorial Healthcare) in Worcester in 1975. Under the guidance and service of Drs. Griffin and Bednarek, the parents and families of central Massachusetts now had a dedicated neonatal team to diagnose, treat and care for their premature and sick babies. Under Frank’s leadership the original NICU, comprised of 8 neonatal beds housed at Memorial Hospital, grew to a state-of-the-art 49-bed level 3 NICU, serving all of central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. His vision allowed for the UMassMemorial NICU to become an early participant in the Vermont-Oxford Network. This led to an established quality improvement program resulting in the NICU having some of the best outcomes for their infants, in comparison to NICUs around the world. In addition, he assisted in the establishment of the level 2 Special Care Nursery at St. Vincent Hospital.

Frank’s career in neonatology spanned 38 years; he was still practicing neonatology at the time of his unexpected passing. Frank was involved in the care of nearly every sick or premature infant born in Central Massachusetts. In recent years, he also cared for a second generation of babies, the children of his former patients. He was an integral part of the Massachusetts and New England Neonatology community and was well known nationally for his research. His academic and professional interests varied, but were always centered on the subject of newborn medicine and how to improve the care delivered to the newborns and their families. He was an early advocate and adopter of family-centered care, allowing for families to participate in the care and medical decision-making process, years before this became routine in medicine.

He authored a multitude of works on newborn medicine topics that included greater than 100 academic papers. He participated in and organized hundreds of lectures at local, regional and national conferences. Frank mentored hundreds of college students, medical students, pediatric residents and neonatal fellows. His dedication to the families under his care inspired many to choose a similar path. As the neonatal-perinatal fellowship director and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, he trained several generations of neonatologists and pediatricians who continue his legacy in their practices throughout the country. Frank served on the UMass Memorial Foundation Stewardship Committee, was co-chair of the Board of the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the March of Dimes, was the Tissue Bank Director of the Mother's Milk Bank of New England, was a past member of the Diocese of Worcester Healthcare Ethics Commission, a member of the Worcester District Medical Society and the National Perinatal Society and many more regional and national medical societies. Frank was also a member of St. George's Church and Immaculate Conception Church in Worcester.

He was a humble man, but his many accomplishments were noted by others. He was recognized by the Worcester District Medical Society in 2006 with its Career Achievement Award. In 1999, the Diocese of Worcester conferred upon him the St. Luke Physician's award that represented medical excellence combined with a caring attitude that enabled him to help families dealing with traumatic situations.


Frank enjoyed relaxing and spending time at his summer home with his family and friends. He was an avid sports fan and an accomplished athlete who played semi-pro baseball in his twenties. He was a member of Cranberry Valley Golf Course in Harwich and was a former member at the Worcester Country Club. He will always be remembered for his gentle, kind and compassionate nature.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Frank’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 19, at Immaculate Conception Church, 353 Grove St., Worcester, followed by interment at St. John’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dr. Francis J. Bednarek Memorial NICU Fund, UMass Medicine Development Office, 333 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545. To share a memory of Frank or offer a condolence, please sign the guestbook on this page.