Dr. Francis Kenney Tindall passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 15, 2023. He was 83. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Heather Tindall Sr.; six children, Heather Jr., Christopher, James, Zachary, Renee, and Allie; his brother, Chuck, and his wife, Linda; along with his nephew, Ian, and niece, Jen. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Kylie, Maddie, Parker James, Regan, Hunter, Nick, Kenley, and Emma. Frank was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Francis.
Frank was born on Jan. 4,1940, to Mary G. Kenney and Francis G. Tindall Sr. of Syracuse, New York. After graduating high school, he went to ľĹĐăÖ±˛Ą, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Economics. He proudly played football for Queen’s and was coached by his father. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became the head football coach of the Royal Military College (1963-1964) and also earned All Canadian End recognition.
During the 1961 Yates Cup Championship game against McGill, he was tackled and fractured his cervical spine, which became his inspiration to be a doctor. He went on to be president of his medical class in 1967 and graduated from Queen’s in 1968. As an orthopedic resident in Kingston, he created the first sports medicine clinic in Ontario and also organized the first medical coverage for high school football games in the province. In 1974, Frank started his medical practice in Brockville, where he established the first orthopedic practice for the region.
He moved to Phoenix, A.Z., in 1985, where he established Arizona Bone and Joint Specialists, which focused on orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Frank quickly entrenched himself in the community and joined forces with then Scottsdale mayor, Herb Drinkwater, to connect Kingston and Scottsdale as sister cities. He also worked with numerous sports teams, including Arizona State University, the Arizona Coyotes, and served on the anti-doping board for the U.S.A. Track and Field Association.
In 1993, Frank met Heather and they fell fast in love, travelling the world, sailing, scuba diving, and wine tasting. They married on Nov. 9, 1996, at sunset in their backyard and combined their families, bringing together Frank’s three children, Heather, Christopher and James, with Heather’s three children, Zachary, Renee and Allie. Together, Frank and Heather were active on the John C. Lincoln board, helping to raise money annually for various charities.
In 2020, Frank retired after almost 50 years in medicine and spent his remaining time hosting friends and family, strumming his banjo, telling dad jokes and soaking up Arizona sunsets with Heather and their dog Penny. He took his last trip to La Jolla, C.A., for well-needed family time and one last ocean sunset.
Throughout his life, he notoriously cracked jokes with his grown children, made silly faces with his grandchildren, and even pulled some light-hearted pranks on the nurses. He had a great ability to make others smile and his sense of humour will be missed.
George was a husband, father, grandpa, surgeon, football legend, banjo player, joke teller, and cigar aficionado. His laugh and spirit will be sorely missed by his family and friends, as well as thousands of patients he worked with over his medical career.