Dr. Frank A. Carone, 69, Morrison professor of pathology at Northwestern University Medical School and a pioneer in kidney research, died Friday at his Evanston home.
During his 37-year tenure at Northwestern, Dr. Carone wore several administrative hats. He was acting chairman and then deputy chairman of the pathology department at Northwestern University Medical School for two decades ending in the early 1990s. And he served a 15-year term as director of the clinical laboratories at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
As a teacher, Dr. Carone trained several kidney pathologists visiting from abroad who went on to become experts in their own countries, according to his colleague Dr. Jayme Borensztajn.
Dr. Carone’s primary focus was his research into the normal functions and diseases of the kidney.
“He was an excellent scientist and investigator, original in his work,” said Borensztajn, a professor of pathology at Northwestern University Medical School. “Some of the work that he has done is now part of textbooks.”
Born in Morgantown, W. Va., Dr. Carone graduated from West Virginia University in 1948. He obtained a doctor of medicine degree in 1952 from Yale University Medical School.
After serving during the Korean War as a flight surgeon at Griffith Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y., he completed fellowships in kidney research at Yale Medical School and the University College Hospital of London.
Dr. Carone moved to Wilmette in 1960 and began working at Northwestern University. In 1964, he was awarded a prestigious Markle Scholarship that allowed him to focus on his research at Northwestern University for five years. Then he was named Morrison professor of pathology.
In recent years, his work has focused on finding the cause of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney disease, a genetic disease that causes cysts in the kidneys.
“He really put his heart into that research. There are a lot of people who have the disease, and it really hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves,” said Annabelle Carone, his wife of 45 years.
Dr. Carone has written approximately 200 articles and contributed to medical text books. He frequently spoke at conferences and conducted project reviews for the National Institute of Health. For 10 years, he edited the “Year Book of Pathology and Clinical Pathology.” In 1990, he founded and became president of Midwest Micro Media, a distribution center for medical testing kits.
After living on a small farm in St. Charles for almost 20 years, Dr. Carone became a partner in Oakland Residential Properties, which built a residential development on the site. He then moved to Evanston.
“He always said it was a great privilege to be doing what he truly loved in life,” said his wife.
Other survivors include four daughters, Leslie Manzara, Patricia, Michelle and Susan; one son, Frank Jr.; two grandchildren; and a brother.
Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday in Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 1571 Maple Ave., Evanston. A mass will be said at 7 p.m. Friday at Sheil Chapel of Northwestern University, 2110 Sheridan Rd., Evanston.
