A local hero of Charlotte, North Carolina passed away last Friday. Dr. Francis Robicsek was with his loved ones when he went to meet his creator of the age of 94.
During his long career as a heart surgeon he had save the lives of many residents of Charlotte. Furthermore, he had shown his character through the many humanitarian efforts he supported throughout his life.
Reflective of his lifelong dedication to his profession, Dr. Robicsek’s final wish was that he be buried wearing scrubs. To him, the scrubs meant more than a doctor’s outfit; it symbolized his character and the legacy that he leaves behind.
Dr. Geoffrey Rose, a fellow doctor and close friend of Dr. Robicsek, said that is how his friend viewed himself all the time: in scrubs, always ready to serve the patients.
Francis Robicsek was born in Hungary in 1925 before he migrated to America. After settling down in Charlotte, he has lived in Charlotte until he shed his final breath last week.
He was a renowned physician, and holds several records in Charlotte. In the 1950s, he was one of the first doctors to successfully perform heart bypass surgeries. In 1986, Dr. Robicsek performed a crucial role in helping the first successful heart transplant surgery of Charlotte.
In 1966, Dr. Robicsek founded the Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute. Since its establishment, the institute has helped many in local area receive the proper cardiovascular treatments.
Furthermore, he personally performed more than 35,000 surgeries up to his retirement from active duty in 1998. Locals are the first to admit that everyone in Charlotte knew someone who got their health back thanks to Dr. Robicsek.
Yet Dr. Robicsek was more than just a talented physician. He was a man of great heart and compassion who treated all his patients with the same warmth and dignity that they deserved.
Before segregation laws were abolished, African American patients could only be treated at designated hospitals. However, Dr.Robicsek secretly allowed them into his hospital because he could not perform heart surgeries at the aforementioned hospitals.
He even took his skills outside the borders. In the 1960s, he frequently travelled to Latin American countries to treat patients. In the case of Guatemala, he was not able to do so because of the lackluster facilities. Thus, he asked for the military to aid him in transporting Guatemalan patients to Charlotte before flying them back to their homes.
Truly a man of incredible character, we mourn his passing and remember his legacy. Share with us your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on Facebook for more news like this one.
Correction: The previous edition of the article erroneously stated that the Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute was established in 1940, when in fact the Institute was initiated in 1966.
Replaced!