Stephan Istvan Frater, MD, 90, of Providence, husband of Suzy Viola (Pataki) Frater, died peacefully at home on October 31, 2012. Born in Debrecen, Hungary, he was the only child of the late Lajos & Bella (Engleman) Frater. He graduated from Semmelweis Medical University, Budapest, and emigrated to the United States in 1956. He was the Chief of Nuclear Medicine at R.I. Hospital, a founding Assistant Professor at Brown University School of Medicine, and a founding Partner at RI Medical Imaging. An avid stamp collector, he was an international philatelic judge and the Treasurer of the Hungarian Medical Association of America. He enjoyed membership in the Dunes Club, the University Club & the Hope Club. Besides his wife, of 60 years, he is survived by: 3 children, Prof. Stephen I. Frater, Jr. of Narragansett, Dr. Susan Candace Stephens (& Henry Diamond) of Providence, and Thomas P.B. Frater (wife Daniela) of Greenwich CT; 5 grandchildren, James Christopher Stephens, Thomas P.B. Frater, Jr., Hope Elizabeth Frater, Andrew Franz Frater, and Stephan Istvan Frater, II. His daughter, the late Marian “Andy” Frater, predeceased him in death.
For as long as most anyone in HMAA can remember, Dr. Frater had a defining presence as he has become the doyen of our society. For many years he worked as the Treasurer of the Hungarian Medical Association of America. In 2011, Dr. Frater was awarded the HMAA Lifetime Membership Award.