Charles Matthew Fernandez

Charles Matthew Fernandez, 63, of Coral Gables, Florida, passed away on May 24, 2025. Born on February 8, 1962, in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, to Cuban immigrant parents, Charlie, as he was affectionately known by friends and family, was a proud father, loving husband, loyal friend, and visionary businessman.

Charlie moved to Miami in 1979 and later graduated from Florida International University with a degree in business and international finance. He went on to build an exceptionally dynamic and influential career spanning media, healthcare, finance, and e-commerce.

He began his professional journey in radio, serving as President of Viva America Media Group, which owned the newspaper Mi Casa and operated Radio Mambi and Radio Ritmo in Miami. When Viva was acquired by Heftel Broadcasting in 1989, Charlie became Chief Operating Officer. Under his leadership, the company earned the prestigious Marconi Radio Award from the National Association of Broadcasters.

In 1995, Charlie transitioned into healthcare, co-founding Continucare, an outpatient service management company. He later returned to media as President and CEO of Big City Radio following its acquisition of Hispanic Media Holdings, a Spanish-language online platform. He also held senior roles with IVAX and served on numerous corporate boards.

In 2008, Charlie was appointed President and Co-Manager of the Fairholme Fund. Two years later, he joined the Board of Directors of the St. Joe Company. That same year, Charlie was recognized by Fortune Magazine as a "restructuring whiz" for his pivotal role in the restructuring of $1.8 billion of General Growth Property bonds during one of the most complex real estate bankruptcies in US history.

In 2012, he launched the Barnstar Opportunities Fund and in 2015 co-founded Kempstar, LLC, a successful commodity trading firm based in Coral Gables. He sold his Kempstar interest in 2020.

In 2016, Charlie became Chairman and CEO of eApeiron Solutions, an e-commerce firm focused on brand protection using Kodak anti-counterfeiting technology and Alibaba-backed solutions. The company was acquired by Smartrac, a unit of Avery Dennison Corporation, where Charlie served on the supervisory board.

Most recently, in July 2021, Charlie became CEO of Orbsat, which was later rebranded as NextPlat, a NASDAQ-listed healthcare and e-commerce company. He served as CEO and Executive Chairman until his passing.

Charlie was known not only for his sharp business acumen but also for his generosity, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lauren; his children, Jacqueline, Layla, and Daniel; and countless colleagues and loyal friends who admired his leadership and treasured his friendship.

A graveside funeral will be held at the Caballero Rivero Woodlawn North cemetery, 3260 SW 8th Street, Miami, at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29th. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Miami Children's Hospital in memory of Charles Matthew Fernandez.