Frank Croll was born in Dungog into a timber milling family. His father, Thomas Croll, was CEO of J Croll and Sons Dungog, and his mother Ruth (nee Lean), was from a family of landowners. His sister, Jennifer, became a kindergarten teacher. At the age of 11, Frank became a weekly boarder at Maitland High School and matriculated to the University of Sydney aged 16. He graduated in medicine in January 1952, and commenced a long apprenticeship for his career as a consultant physician with a special interest in cardiology.

Two years as an Resident Medical Officer at Manly Hospital were followed by a year as Teaching Fellow in Pathology at the University of Sydney. Registrar appointments of one year each at Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children (RAHC) and Sydney Hospital, led to two years as Medical Registrar at the Hallstrom Institute of Cardiology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH). He was then appointed as Clinical Assistant in Cardiology at RPAH (a position he held for 40 years until his retirement in 1997), and was also made a Member of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. These apparently diverse appointments were all undertaken as preparation for Membership of the RACP, which he attained in 1958. In the meantime he had committed himself to a four year partnership in general practice at Riverwood, an undertaking he honoured despite having been appointed an Honorary Physician at Bankstown District Hospital in 1957.

In 1961, he established a consultant practice in Bankstown which became the cornerstone of his life’s work. He maintained his appointment at the Hallstrom Institute of Cardiology and added Honorary Physician appointments at Liverpool and Canterbury Hospitals. Doing ward rounds four to five times each week, in three different hospitals was a considerable undertaking. It became his custom to occupy all his hours of car travel by listening to post-graduate educational tapes – no matter who was with him!

He took an active interest in medical politics and became President of the National Association of Medical Specialists in 1982. He was then co-opted to the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) where he became Honorary Treasurer from 1982 to 1986. He later became Chairman of the AMA Health Fund and was made a Fellow of the AMA in 1985. He also served a year as Chairman of the Medical Board of Bankstown Hospital. This committee work occurred after a full day’s work and at a very difficult time of conflict between the profession, and both State and Federal governments.

In 1955, he married Joan (nee Holliday) who became a pioneer of the multidisciplinary approach to breast disease and who was to receive an AO for her work in this field. His daughters were also achievers; Catherine as an artist and photographer, Philippa as Director of National Trust in South Australia then Queensland, Elisabeth in graphic design and book publishing, and Annabel in real estate.

Frank loved Australian art and took any opportunity to visit galleries on Saturday afternoons. He and Joan entertained on Sundays when guests were treated to an impressive collection of Australian art, as well as having the opportunity to sample good Australian red wines, another of Frank’s collecting passions. He was a Life Member of the National Trust, a member of the Art Gallery of NSW Foundation and a foundation member of the Museum of Contemporary Art. He was an expert fly fisherman, unaffected by inclement weather which would force his fishing friends back to their lodge.

He was quietly spoken and never raised his voice in anger. He was a good listener and gave his patients all the time they needed to tell their story, earning great loyalty from them. Letters from referring doctors were dictated in the patient’s presence, no information withheld. He was handsome and well dressed, favouring Italian suits and jackets, and introduced skivvies – silk of course – as acceptable honorary visiting dress. Frank died from carcinoma of the pancreas just after his 75th birthday.