Charles Lankau, M.D.

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Dr. Charles Arthur Lankau Jr.
Cherished husband, father, and grandfather, Charles Arthur Lankau, Jr., M.D. passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at the age of 75. His grace, faith, and perseverance throughout his struggle with illness will always be remembered. Charles was the eldest son of the late Charles Arthur Lankau, Sr. and Margaret Fee. He was born on September 24, 1938 in Nyack, New York at Nyack Hospital, and lived in Nanuet during his formative years. He said his most meaningful and influential experience in guiding him throughout his life stemmed from serving as an altar boy at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Nanuet. He attended Nanuet Elementary School and Nyack High School, where he met his wife, devoted partner, and best friend, Frances Wamsley. He was a scholar-athlete, lettering in baseball, basketball and was Captain of the football team. He attended the American Legions Boy's State of New York, which helped to formulate his civic leadership skills, and he subsequently enrolled at Colgate University with the dream of becoming a physician, like his family doctor. While attending Colgate, on a full tuition scholarship, Charles was elected Vice President of the Student Senate, President of Sigma Nu Fraternity, and President of the Interraternity Council. He graduated from Colgate University (B.S.), with Honors, in 1960. After marrying Frances, the couple moved to Rochester, N.Y., where Charles attended the University of Rochester, School of Medicine, as a Whipple Scholar, and earned his Doctor of Medicine with Honor in 1964. While in medical school, Charles' dearest mentor was Dr. William Strain, who helped the young couple in many special ways. The couple moved to New York City and where Charles began his Internship and Surgical Residency training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., from 1964 to 1970. During these years Charles and Frances welcomed their three children with love and joy. Following his Surgical Residency, he proudly served as a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey wherehe earned the Army Commodation Medal for meritorious service at Patterson Army Hospital. Charles had a deep desire to continue his training in Pediatric Surgery, and moved his family to Miami, Florida where he began his Pediatric Surgical Fellowship at University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital under Dr. Mark Rowe from July 1972 to December 1973. An avid football fan, he became a Miami Dolphins season ticket holder and maintained his season tickets for 40 years, recently passing them to his son. In 1974, he proudly joined his friend and colleague, Dr. Michel Nahmad, in private pediatric surgical practice, and later welcomed Dr. Malvin Weinberger, where they were geographic members of the Miami Children's Hospital. He served as Chief of the Department of Pediatric Surgery for almost 31 years and was on staff at Baptist Hospital of Miami. During his career, Dr. Lankau was a past President of the Florida Society of Pediatric Surgeons, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, a Surgical Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics, a Fellow in the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, member of the American Medical Association, and member of the Dade County Medical Association. He was highly regarded by the medical community for his commitment and advocacy for the establishment of best practice standards for surgical care for children throughout the State of Florida. He was blessed with a unique combination of compassion for all humanity, dedication to the highest quality of care for his young patients and their families, and a strong Irish sensibility and quick-wittedness that made him so adored. After retirement in July 2005, Charles spent half of his time with his wife at their home in Sag Harbor, N.Y. He had an enduring fondness for Sag Harbor, where his mother and grandparents were born and raised and he spent nearly every summer of his life. There, he enjoyed riding aboard his boat, "Post-Op;" fishing for fluke and puffers; growing tomatoes, fruits, vegetables, and flowers, especially roses; telling stories of his boyhood adventures while picking berries; and summer days of swimming at Long Beach, with his children and grandchildren, who will miss him dearly. He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Frances Wamsley; his daughter Lisa, son Charles and daughter-in-law Melenie, son Stephen and daughter-in-law Daphne; nine grandchildren, Michele, Lianna, Charles IV, Julia, Nicholas, Andrew, Annalisa, Mia, and Stephen Jr.; and brothers, Paul (Judy) Lankau, Robert (Nancy) Lankau, Peter (Sharon) Lankau; and sister, Grace (Charles) Leo; and 45 nieces and nephews. His kindness, humor, and generous spirit will live forever in the hearts of his loving family, dear friends, medical colleagues and patients to whom he dedicated his life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Miami Children's Hospital Department of Pediatric Surgery. As he always said, "It's for the kids." The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, December 11, at Stanfill Funeral Home, 10545 S. Dixie Highway, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary - St. Richard Catholic Church, 7500 SW 152nd Street, on Thursday, December 12, at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements for services in New York include visitation on Sunday, December 15, at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service, New City, NY from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Nanuet, NY at 10:00am, followed by burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nyack, NY
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