Dr. John Falencki, who established a family medical practice in the Village in 1979 and was a partner in the Fig Tree Collaborative Practice at 25 Fifth Ave., died Dec. 30 in a scuba diving accident at the age of 55 while on vacation with his family in Palm Beach, Fla.
The accident occurred while he was taking a certified diving course, according to his friend and partner, Dr. Jerry Clements.
A graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine in Michigan, he completed his residency in family practice in Washington State and moved to the Village 24 years ago. “He was the first board-certified family practice specialist in Manhattan and paved the way for many others,” said Clements.
His practice encompassed homeopathic therapy and included patients as old as 90 and as young as 9 days old. “He wanted to serve the Greenwich Village community in a compassionate and personal way,” said Clements.
His wife, Mureen, their daughter, Emily, and sons, Jonah and Andy, and his mother, Karin, survive. A memorial service was held on Jan. 5 at All Souls Unitarian Church on Lexington Ave., at 80th St., and two memorial services in the Village will be announced.
