Frank Barnyak spent days and nights at St. Vincent Medical Center with his wife Mary at the end of her life in 2005. Both were touched by the care Mary received during this difficult time, especially the spiritual care provided by SVMC’s Father Roman and the chaplains on staff.

Frank honored his late wife by making a generous gift to St. Vincent Medical Center.  This gift has enabled SVMC to establish a Palliative Care Program that brings together spiritual care and nursing staffs to address the unique end-of-life needs of patients and their families.

“In the ancient world, people died before they turned 30,” said Barnyak. “So what’s the main reason we live much longer? Modern medicine. Those of us who are older than 30 owe a debt to modern medicine every time we breathe. I want to help repay that debt.” 

St. Vincent Medical Center is just one of the organizations Frank quietly supports to honor Mary’s life. He is also fulfilling one of Mary’s dreams by building the first Catholic church in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, where the two vacationed for more than 50 years.

Barnyak has led a fascinating life. He was an Air Force pilot in WWII. After the war, he worked as a U.S. counter-intelligence agent in Central America. He then became a representative for Bell Helicopter and traveled the world, often with Mary. After retirement, he followed his passion for sportsmanship by founding L.A.’s annual Great Western Gun Show, the largest event of its kind in the country.

Today, he continues to look for ways to “repay the debt, quietly and without fanfare” for all the blessings he and Mary enjoyed. “Mary had a magnetic personality; everyone liked her,” he said. “And she felt the same way I do about giving back. So I continue to give back, but now it’s in honor of Mary.”