Seth D. Blank, MD

Seth David Blank, MD of Cape Elizabeth and Ocean Park, Maine, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, in the loving arms of his family.

Seth’s surgical and patient care skills were heart-driven, his music made his heart soar, and his family filled his heart with joy, delight, and pride.

Seth was the second son of Sylvia and Efrom Blank, born March 14th, 1960, and was raised with his brothers Neil and Ethan in Levittown and later in Great Neck, Long Island, New York. It was during middle school that Seth took advantage of art and music offerings, and in the summers, he participated in swim meets and enjoyed sailing. It was here that he got his lifelong love of the water.

Seth attended Great Neck North High School, which had rigorous academics as well as strong musical connections in New York City and Nassau County. Here, he found his calling for the French horn while playing in school plays and orchestras, and he continued his musical career throughout his time there.

After high school, Seth began an accelerated six-year BA/MD program at BU/BUSM in Boston, Massachusetts. While medical school became all-consuming, including double summer sessions, Seth made time for playing his French horn – meeting people in basement practice rooms late at night or busking on street corners – and found community with the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Belmont Orchestra.

After medical school graduation, Seth decided to pursue his five-year surgical residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven, Connecticut. During his residency, Seth met the love of his life, Lynn Ann Harvey, a registered nurse who worked on the cardiothoracic surgical care unit. At St. Raphael’s that Seth forged relationships with many people who would become lifelong friends and mentors.

Following surgical residency, Seth engaged in a year of research at Massachusetts General Hospital. In the summer of 1989, Lynn and Seth were engaged on Nantucket Island. It was there that they began dreaming of their life and future together. They were united in marriage on June 10th, 1990, by a priest and a rabbi in Branford, Connecticut. Shortly after their honeymoon in Grand Cayman, Lynn and Seth set out on their life adventure together. Their first home was in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with their new puppy, Pepper. Seth completed his
cardio-thoracic surgical residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland while Lynn practiced as a transplant surgical nurse at the same hospital.

In 1992, family roots were established as Seth began practicing Cardiothoracic surgery at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. In later years, his focus was on chest surgery at Mercy Hospital and finally at Maine General Hospital in Augusta, Maine. He marveled at the dedication, skill, and level of care he experienced with his coworkers. Throughout his decades of service in the medical field, he gave each patient the time, consideration, and care they needed.

Seth and Lynn made Cape Elizabeth their forever home, choosing a property with beauty and space for gardens, a playground, and a sledding hill for their future children. The home was renovated and redesigned in a Nantucket style, featuring a lap pool and a music room for swimming and practicing his French horn pieces daily.

More than his bellowing melodies from the practice room, the home was soon filled with joyful sounds as Lynn and Seth welcomed their four children, Sarah Nicole, Joseph Daniel, Benjamin John, and Jacqueline Elizabeth. Dad, or Pops, was the greatest role he took on.
Years as a family were filled with bedtime stories, walks to the creek in Ocean Park, Scooby Doo episodes, crossword puzzles after dinner, Sunday comics, school events, dad jokes, walks at Fort Williams with beloved dogs, ski trips to Sunday River, loud organ music, and coffee and food experiences. Vacations always included the whole family, and favorite destinations included Nantucket, Paris, Italy, Spain, Disney World, Grand Cayman, Virgin Gorda, and Eluethera. Snorkeling and scuba diving were among his favorite vacation activities.

In spare moments, he would study Opera scores before taking the trip to see them in person at the Metropolitan Opera with fellow music-loving friends. Outside of work, he also took time to dedicate himself to his passion for the French horn, playing in multiple bands, symphonies, and orchestras. Holidays were always family-oriented, filled with traditions and decorations, especially Christmas and the yearly debate over the height of the tree. The sounds of Seth’s whistling would change to include the music of the Nutcracker when the season had arrived. For his family, he kept his traditions of Passover and Hanukkah alive as he recited Hebrew blessings after making mountains of latkes and matzo balls in the kitchen.

As recently as two weeks ago, Seth performed in a horn trio concert with the Rossini Club. Seth was also active with the Ocean Park Band, Biddeford Alumni Band, Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, Maine State Ballet Orchestra, Centennial Brass Band, Sunrise Brass Quintet, and, recently, the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra.

Seth will always remain in the hearts of the many people he loved, the patients he helped, and especially his wife, Lynn “Punkin”, his cherished children, Sarah, Joseph, Ben, and Jackie, and puppy, Lola.

A memorial concert will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Cremation, Funeral, and Gathering Center, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. To view Seth’s memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ocean Park Association, PO Box 7296, Ocean Park, Maine 04063.