Frank Landry, MD, died peacefully on Saturday, December 6, on home hospice, after suffering the effects of the acute illness Goodpasture Syndrome.
Born in Newton, Mass., to Frank and Nan Landry on January 27, 1960, Frank grew up with his beloved siblings, Joan, David, Nannette and Michael. There he appreciated the beauty of the ocean and all it offered — swimming, fishing, exploring salt marshes and clamming. With the death of his father at age 8, the family was left financially burdened but emotionally rich. Their mother taught the family the tremendous importance of a work ethic, something Frank embraced his entire life. With his two brothers in their own neighborhood landscaping company, Frank cared for the property of the Scituate, Mass., summer residents.
Frank was proud of his excellent public education in Scituate. Combining his hard-earned savings with scholarship funds, he attended and graduated from Saint Michael’s College (1982), proud to pay his own way. He met Justine Pfeifer there, the kindest, most loving woman on the planet.
Frank wanted to be a doctor and follow in his brother David’s footsteps, studying medicine. Though crushed by David’s suicide, he maintained a commitment to medicine as a career. Frank graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine (1987), receiving a Health Professions Scholarship through the U. S. Army. Besides marrying Justine and adopting his children, Frank always said that the 10 years serving the country was the best thing he ever did.
He completed his training in internal medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Uniformed Services University Medical School. He served 10 years in the Medical Corps at Walter Reed and at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash. His passion was not just doctoring but also teaching and mentoring medical students and residents. During his tenure in the service, he traveled the country and world, serving during Desert Storm, and receiving numerous awards for teaching and medical practice.
Moving to Vermont in 1996 to be closer to family, Frank joined the University of Vermont Medical Center and University of Vermont Medical School as an associate professor of medicine. He opened his own practice in Burlington’s New North End, recruiting and mentoring younger doctors, showing them the joy of an independent practice. In 2011 Frank further defined his clinical practice by establishing the first MDVIP concierge internal medicine practice in Vermont. He was always an advocate for the independent doctor.
Over the years, Frank served as medical director of Birchwood Terrace Health Care, president of Fletcher Allen Health Care Medical Staff (2004), governor of the American College of Physicians (Vermont Chapter) and president of Vermont Internal Medicine.
His greatest enjoyment in life came from his family. Frank was passionate about embracing life in Vermont with Justine and their two sons, Nick and Matt. Fishing, swimming, sledding and exploring with his boys at the Pfeifer home on Molly’s Falls Pond in Cabot, Vt., was the delight of his life. He was most proud of Nick and Matt — despite all the usual struggles of growing up — for how well they have done and how well they chose their partners, Martha and Rachel.
Frank leaves his wife and friend of 40 years, Justine Pfeifer Landry, as well as his best friends — his sons and their spouses — Nick and Martha, Matt and Rachel. He is survived by his siblings and their spouses in Massachusetts: Joan (Clinton), Nannette (Paul) and Michael (Janet); as well as his sister- and brothers- in-law, Elizabeth, John (Brenda), and Martin (David). He was always grateful for the loyalty of his patients, treating them as part of his family.
Frank and his family wish to express their gratitude for the exceptional care he received from the nurses on McClure 6, as well as the staff of the dialysis unit at UVMMC.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel on the campus of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt., on Friday, December 12, at 10 a.m. Interment will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Professor Edward Pfeifer Scholarship Fund, Saint Michael’s College, 1 Winooski Park, Box 256, Colchester, VT 05439; or to Home Health and Hospice, University of Vermont Health, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446.
This article appears in Dec 10-16 2025.
In my first few years leading the Champlain Valley Prostate Cancer Support Group, Dr. Landry was a frequent guest speaker and will be remembered for his kindness, unwavering support, humility, generosity, and deep knowledge and experience surrounding men’s health. Thank You, Frank.
For many years while we lived in Vermont, Dr. Landry was our personal physician. He exemplified the rare combination of knowledge, caring and practicality. I always felt very well treated and respected by Dr. Landry, and feel honored to have been under his care during those years. So sad that he has departed this life at such a young age.
Dr. Landry was my doctor, and my family’s doctor, for nearly 10 years. Not only was he very thorough, he was warm-hearted and personal in a way few doctors have the time to be. We once spent 15 minutes talking about lawn care and his gorgeous lawn! (I admit it, I was jealous.) Another amazing ability he had was to listen. When one of us had high liver function tests, he at first ascribed it to advancing age. But after I did a little research on a recently added supplement and found one of its ingredients was linked to liver failure in reports from Europe, he immediately switched his view and said “Stop that supplement!” He didn’t mind that we found the information, he was always open to dicussion, and to learning new things from his patients — as well as teaching us teaching us. But the main thing was his warmth and humanity. I always knew he was in my corner. He will be greatly missed.
Frank was my doctor for 18 years until I left Vermont in 2014. His was a skilled and expert doctor and one of the rare physicians whose compassion and care made him a true healer. Over time, he became my mother’s, my uncle’s and brother’s physician reflecting our high regard for him. It was wonderful to see the joy he felt when he began his concierge practice and felt he could truly care for his patients as a doctor. Over the many years of our time together he spoke of his time with his family. He was truly an extraordinary, loving and caring person. His passing is a great loss for all who knew him.
Big thank you to Frank , who my mother doctor many years ago, also much support to our family