Charles E. Cernuda

Charles E. Cernuda, M.D., 83, passed away on November 3, 2024. A Tampa native and graduate of H. B. Plant High School, he practiced internal medicine and pulmonary disease in Tampa from January 2, 1974, until retiring May 15, 2012. He obtained his B.A. and M.D. degrees from Emory University in Atlanta. He did his internship, residency, and two-year pulmonary disease fellowship at Emory University affiliated hospitals: Grady, Atlanta VA, and Emory hospitals.

He served in the U.S. Airforce Medical Corp as a pulmonary disease specialist in 1972 & 1973. He was a retired Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, and an Emeritus member of St. Joseph’s Hospital medical staff. He was Medical Director of the Adult Intensive Care Unit, Pulmonary Lab & Respiratory Therapy Department at St. Joseph’s from March 1974 to March 1997 and served as Chief of Staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital from 1982 to 1986. He became the first president of St. Joseph’s Physicians Associates, Inc. in April 1986 and later served as its Executive Director from October 1991 to December 2004. He was also active at Centro Asturiano Hospital serving as Medical Director of the Pulmonary Lab and Respiratory Therapy Department from January 1974 until March 1987. He was Vice Chief of Staff in 1976 and 1977.

He also was on numerous medical-related boards of directors including St. Joseph Physicians Health Center Organization, Inc., St. Joseph’s Home Health Services, Inc., BayCare Health Network, Inc., and Florida Independent Physicians Association Region No, 6, Inc., serving as its first president. He was a member of the Hillsborough County Medical Association and served three years on the Board of Censors and as its chairman from June 1, 1981, to May 30, 1982.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Ybor City where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, The Tampa Yacht and Country Club, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, and was a former member of the University Club of Tampa. From 1985 to 1997, he served on the Board of Trustees for Berkeley Preparatory School where all three of his daughters attended school.

In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife Mary, and with their frequent travel companions, Bruce and Barbara Edgerton. He loved reading, especially spy novels, and American history. For years he looked forward to summer vacations with his family, a tradition he continued in his retirement. However, he repeatedly said what he missed most in retirement were the friendships and relationships he had developed with his patients.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Evelio and Angie Cernuda. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary McElroy Cernuda, with whom he would have celebrated his 57th anniversary later this month; his three daughters: Robin Cernuda Perry and husband Will; Meredith Cernuda Wehrell and husband Michael; Lindsey Cernuda Palles and husband Nik; and his eight grandchildren: William and Mary Margaret Perry, Marshall and Stephen Echevarria, Niko, Colton, Tessa, and Pippa Palles.

A visitation will be held Friday, November 8, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at Blount & Curry Life Event Center, 605 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL 33629. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 509 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, 4202 E. Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610.

Pallbearers will be Will Perry, Nik Palles, Michael Wehrell, Richard Cohen, M.D., Dennis Agliano, M.D., Bruce Edgerton, M.D., William Perry, Marshall and Stephen Echevarria. Honorary Pallbearers are Niko and Colton Palles, Richard Gunderman, M.D., Bill Luria, M.D., Joe Casares, Remegio Palumbo, M.D., Jaime Casellas, M.D., Jerry Tootle, M.D., Michael McElroy, Josh Falcon, Hernan Leon, M.D., Kevin Burns, Gil Hernandez, the late Bill DeWeese, M.D., the late John Demmi, Esq., the late Harry Vaiden, and members of the Ybor City Rotary Club.

Donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation, 2700 W. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Unit 310, Tampa, FL 33607, the American Cancer Society, or the Alzheimer’s Association.