Charles Thomas Sirna MD

He is survived by his children, Christine Sirna Bode (Casey), Catherine Sirna Simmons (Will), and Thomas Charles Sirna (Mary Atkins), along with four grandchildren: Reagan Bode, Peyton Bode, Sadie Simmons, and Cooper Simmons.

The only child of Thomas J. Sirna and Vera Agnello, he grew up in New York City, surviving Polio at age three, before moving to Clearwater, FL during his adolescence. He received an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Emory University, went on to complete a Masters in Physics from The University of Florida, and returned to Emory to attend medical school – a lifelong dream of his. He joined the Navy to fund medical school, landing in San Diego for his Cardiology residency and then traveling the world as his ship’s medical officer. After fulfilling his military service, he established Cardiology Consultants in Gadsden, AL, practicing cardiology for over three decades. After retirement, he swapped the hustle of late nights at the hospital for the comfort of watching cherished reruns and delving into non-fiction literature. Daytimes were filled with woodworking projects and exploring Atlanta in the company of his closest friend, Ann. Yet, what truly brought him joy was embracing the role of "Doc" to his four beloved grandchildren.

Photography was his lifelong hobby – some would even say his unpaid profession. If you knew Charlie, chances are you possess a thumb drive with pictures he insisted on capturing at your event, often mailed several days, months, or even years later. His passion for movies was evident, with most films earning a “B-” in his personal rating system, reserving an “A” for classics like Cool Hand Luke and On the Waterfront. He listened to James Taylor, Eric Clapton and Linda Ronstadt, and rooted for Michael Jordan, Pete Sampras, and Auburn football – in his words, “where his kids and money went.” He enjoyed stand-up comics who tackled taboo topics and cherished his mini bernedoodle, Rover. As an extremely reflective and sentimental person, he made sure his children knew that experiencing them become his friends as they grew older was one of his biggest blessings. He considered himself remarkably fortunate, expressing in a recent text message “when u realize how much you DON’T have control over, you realize how fragile and precious your JOURNEY is – try ‘n savor it.”

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gadsden Country Club, 1884 Rainbow Dr, Gadsden, AL 35901. A private burial will be held in Clearwater, FL in the coming months, where he’ll be laid to rest beside his late parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the ASPCA.