Obituary of Frank I. Mendelblatt MD

Frank was born in Pittsburgh, PA on July 2, 1935 to parents, David Lee and Reba Mendelblatt. He and his family moved to St. Petersburg in 1947. Frank graduated from St. Petersburg High School with the class of 1953. He attended the University of Florida as an undergraduate and in 1960, graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He did his residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary and went on to a fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute. He was an Instructor of Ophthalmology at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago from 1964-1965. In 1965, he returned to St. Petersburg to practice Ophthalmology with his father. He continued to work as a physician until the time of his death. He touched the lives of many people and made the world a better place by helping countless patients in the Tampa Bay Community. 

He proudly served his country as a Captain in The United States Air Force from 1966-1968. He held a teaching appointment at the University of South Florida College of Medicine from 1972-2023 and was promoted to Collaborative Clinical Professor in 2022. He served on the medical staffs of Bayfront Medical Center, St. Anthony's Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, Bay Pines VA, James A. Haley VA, and All Children's Hospital (where he was Chief of Staff from 1976-1978). He served on the Board of Directors at the University of Illinois Eye Research Institute from 1996-present. He was passionate about teaching medical students and residents and was the author of many scientific papers.

He was a champion of promoting the sport of youth sailing locally and on a national level. He served as President of the United States Optimist Dinghy Association from 1984-1988, Advisor and Team Leader for the National Championship St. Petersburg High School Sailing Team from 1988-1991, Chairman of United States Yacht Racing Association Youth Championship Committee from 1989-1991, served on United States Sailing Association Board of Directors from 1992-1996, coordinated and directed the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay across Tampa Bay on a racing sailboat en route to the Atlanta Games, and served as Commodore of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club from 1997-1998. In 1990, he was the first ever recipient of the United States Yacht Racing Union's One Design Service Award for Leadership in Junior and Youth Sailing.

Frank loved art, traveling and attending local sporting events, such as Lightning, Rays, and Bucs games. He was a passionate Gators Alumnus, often returning to Gainesville for games. 

Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family. He always put his family first. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on March 27, 2023. He was pre-deceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kathy, his sons David (Amy) and Mark (Carolina), his brother Stanley Mendelblatt, sister Audrey Berger, many nieces and nephews, and his six grandchildren, Dorothy, Adam, Reid, Michael, Cindy and Lourdes Mendelblatt. He will be missed by all who knew him.