Dr. Frank Michael Marmo

Dr. Frank Michael Marmo, 76, passed away peacefully on May 4, 2026, at the University of Chicago, surrounded by family and dear friends after a courageous battle with cancer lasting more than a year. Frank is survived by his beloved child, Alex Marmo (Michael Dick); his wife, Tyra (Stupar) Marmo; his brother, Tony (Kelly) Marmo; his brother-in-law, Terry (Patti) Stupar; and many cherished cousins and dear friends. Frank was born on May 8, 1949, in Sassano, Italy, to Vincent and Carmela (DiBrizzi) Marmo. At the age of five, he immigrated to the United States with his family, eventually settling in Chicago. His parents preceded him in death. Though Chicago became home, Frank never lost the spirit of those sprawling Italian dinners where conversation overlapped, wine flowed freely, laughter filled the room, and feeding people was simply another form of love. Frank was a man of enormous passions and wonderfully specific loyalties. He loved Chicago sports with the devotion of a true believer, especially Da Bears, Blackhawks, and White Sox. He attacked crossword puzzles with determination, delivered Sinatra and Dean Martin karaoke standards with fearless enthusiasm, and maintained a long-running campaign of pretending not to love the family pets, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Frank’s dedication to medicine and public service defined much of his life. He earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola University before attending the University of Bologna School of Medicine. He later completed residencies in both Neurosurgery at Cook County Hospital and Radiology at Illinois Masonic Hospital. He was a dedicated doctor who fiercely believed in communicating the importance of medical science. Frank was a past president of the Jackson County Medical Society, a delegate to the Illinois State Medical Society, and served on the board of directors for the Southwest Chicago Public Action to Deliver homeless services (SW PADS). He had a rare gift for making people feel instantly welcome—as though they had somehow wandered into a family gathering they hadn’t realized they belonged to all along. He befriended and cheerfully heckled just about everyone, and somehow, people loved him even more for it. More than almost anything, Frank loved the timeless ritual of a long, multi-course Italian meal surrounded by people he cared about. For him, conversation was an art form, meals were meant to linger, and no one ever left feeling like a stranger. To know Frank was to share a meal or a glass of wine with him. Frank had a one-of-a-kind personality; warm, sharp-witted, irreverent, generous, and utterly unforgettable. In the spirit of Frank himself, a Celebration of Life gathering will be held in summer 2026 in Miller Beach, Indiana. Additional details will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that those wishing to honor Frank’s memory consider making a donation to the following organizations he deeply cared about. Cancer Research at the University of Chicago: Cancer Research at the University of Chicago Medicine: https://ucmtribute.org/Frank-Marmo Breathe Like a Boss Foundation: https://www.breathelikeaboss.com/ Burns Funeral Home & Crematory entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Frank's online obituary and guestbook at www.BurnsFuneral.com

Dr. Frank Michael Marmo

May 8, 1949 - May 4, 2026