Pioneering cardiologist Dr. Frank Begg served as inspiration

Dr. Frank Begg inspired hundreds of cardiologists during his career at Allegheny General Hospital — and none more than his eldest son Richard.

"The example he set is what led me down the road to medicine," said Dr. Richard Begg of Oakmont, a cardiologist. "No matter what it was, he said to give 110 percent the whole time, and if it didn't work out, so be it."

Dr. Frank Begg of Fox Chapel, former director of catheterization at Allegheny General Hospital in the North Side, died Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. He was 79.

Dr. Begg was raised in Swissvale before attending the University of Pittsburgh for both his undergraduate and medical degrees. During his internship at Geisinger Medical Center, he met his wife, Sue. He completed his cardio fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic before returning to Pittsburgh.

Here, he became the second director of the first heart catheterization laboratory in the region, at Allegheny General Hospital, said Dr. Bryan Donohue, who worked with Dr. Begg.

"He was one of our profession's leaders, a Moses in the art form of heart catheterization," Donohue said. "Frank created an environment where great things could happen. If you judge the tree by the fruit it yields, Dr. Begg's cath lab was epic."

Despite being known nationwide for his studies of heart patients, Dr. Begg's most indelible marks were left on his colleagues. Donohue said it was common for Dr. Begg to pull him into his office.

"He had no reason to put his arm around me and offer me encouragement, but he did all of those things without hesitation, without qualification, and encouraged all I was doing," Donohue said. "He wielded his power with a certain grace and a certain elegance."

Donohue will always remember the smile Dr. Begg had on his face and his "amazing intellect." After his retirement in 1991 as the director of catheterization at Allegheny General Hospital, Dr. Begg became an avid golfer and spent some time in Florida. His heart, however, was always in Pittsburgh, his eldest son said.

Family was first in Dr. Begg's life, his friends and family said. Despite the busy schedule he kept as a doctor, he always made time for his sons and wife, Richard Begg said. That was a lesson he tried to pass onto new physicians.

"Medicine is tough, and there's a lot of long hours," said Richard Begg. "The personal things were always important to him, and he tried to pass that along to others."

That is what made him an extraordinary cardiologist and colleague, Donohue said.

"It was never about Frank," Donohue said. "It was about taking care of his patients, taking care of his children, and a willingness to not have the center of focus on himself that made him so incredibly accomplished himself."

In addition to his wife Sue and son Richard, Dr. Begg is survived by sons Todd Begg and Stephen Begg, both of O'Hara; and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Burket-Truby Funeral Home, 412 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont.

A memorial service and interment will be private.