Dr. Luis Fernando Franco

Dr. Fernando Franco was a caring father, husband, grandfather, brother and friend. He went home to Jesus on January 30, 2021.

Fernando was born in Piura, Peru on November 21, 1944, the son of Parcemon and Victoria (Riofrio) Franco. He lived in Piura during his school years and made many long lasting friends, “Los Cachorros”, who were considered family and stayed in contact with regularly. He also stayed very close to his 2 brothers and distance was not a limitation, he talked with them weekly via video. These video calls were so important and sacred that all other family events activities had to be scheduled knowing he wouldn’t want to miss any of them.

He graduated medical school from Universidad Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru in 1969 and was very proud of attending the oldest University in Latin America. He moved to Alabama in 1975 to do his residency as a Neurologist at The University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB). He then moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to complete a Fellowship as a Neurologist in Movement Disorders.  He returned to Birmingham, Alabama, after completing the Fellowship and it was during this period that he met and married his wife, Crisse Dodd.

He practiced medicine as a Neurologist at Bryce, Druid City and VA hospitals in Tuscaloosa for many years and was blessed to have practiced his much beloved profession until the very end. His other passion was photography. Taking pictures of his family, particularly the ones from his grandchildren, always brought him lots of joy. He loved being a southerner and the many traditions from his new home Alabama, including his beloved BBQ, Cat Fish and Crimson Tide Football. He was a member of Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover.

He is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Crisse D. Franco; daughters, Dr. Veronica Franco (Brandon Brown) and Monica Higgins (David); grandchildren, Gabriella (12), Isabella (9), Rafael (5) Brown, and Cohen Higgins (11); brother, Parcemon “Kiko” (Ana Maria) and Javier (Graciela); and a host of nieces and nephews.

A graveside service is planned for February 4, 2021 at 2:00pm at Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South. The service will be transmitted via Facebook and the link will be posted Thursday 4th.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who wish to remember Fernando in a special way make gifts in his memory to UAB School of Medicine-Comprehensive Transplant Institute (4th link down under “in memory / in honor of Fernando Franco”) at https://www.uab.edu/medicine/transplant/give

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Dr. Fernando Franco fue un excelente padre, esposo, abuelo, hermano y amigo. Se unió a la casa del Señor Jesucristo el 30 de Enero, 2021.

Fernando nació en Piura, Perú el 21 de Noviembre, 1944, hijo de Parcemón y Victoria (Riofrío) Franco. El vivió en Piura durante su infancia y adolescencia e hizo muy estrecha amistad con sus amigos “Los Cachorros”, que eran considerados como familia, manteniendo un contacto cercano con todos ellos. Era muy unido con sus 2 hermanos y la distancia no fue un obstáculo para mantenerse en contacto via video. Estas llamadas por video eran “sagradas”, tanto que, eventos familiares, debian ser planeados para no perder la reunión semanal.

Se graduó de la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad Mayor de San Marcos en Lima, Perú en 1969 y estaba muy orgulloso de llamar a su Alma Mater, la universidad mas antigua de America Latina. Se mudó a Alabama en 1975 para su entrenamiento en Neurología en la Universidad de Alabama en Birmingham (UAB) e hizo una especialidad en Desordenes del Movimiento en Memphis, Tennessee.  Regresó a Birmingham al completar su especialidad y fue durante este tiempo que se casó con Crisse Dodd.

Trabajó por muchos años como Neurólogo en Bryce, Druid City y hospitales de los Veteranos (VA) en Tuscaloosa y practicó su adorada profesión hasta semanas antes de morir. Su otra pasión fue la fotografía y disfrutaba de tomar fotos de su familia, en particular de sus nietos. Adoptó con cariño las tradiciones sureñas de su nuevo hogar, especialmente la comida barbeque, el Cat Fish y el futbol americano Crimson Tide de la Universidad de Alabama. Fue miembro de la Iglesia Baptista Hunter Street en Hoover.

Lo sobreviven su esposa, Crisse D. Franco; sus hijas, Dra. Verónica Franco (Brandon Brown) y Monica Higgins (David); sus nietos, Gabriella (12), Isabella (9), Rafael (5) Brown, y Cohen Higgins (11); sus hermanos, Parcemón “Kiko” (Ana María) y Javier (Graciela); y muchos primos y sobrinos.

El servicio en el cementerio será el 4 de Febrero, 2021 a las 2:00pm (central time) / 3:00 pm (hora de Lima) en Jefferson Memorial Gardens, South. El link de transmision por internet sera puesto el jueves 4 en Facebook.

En vez de flores, la familia pide que aquellos que quieran recordar a Fernando en forma especial, por favor hacer donaciones en su nombre a la Escuela de Medicina-Centro de Transplante de UAB (bajo el link “in memory / in honor of Fernando Franco”) cuyo link es https://www.uab.edu/medicine/transplant/give