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Dana Shires Obituary
age 92, of Tampa, Florida passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025. He spent his early years in West Virginia and Virginia before moving to Jacksonville, Florida. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1952, serving during the Korean War, afterwards continuing his education at the University of Florida where he graduated from Medical School in 1961. He continued his medical education by specializing in nephrology where he and his colleagues invented Gatorade. A pioneer in his field, Dr. Shires went on to create LifeLink foundation, an organization dedicated to patients in need of organ transplant therapy. His groundbreaking work continues to Impact lives around the world. He is survived by his loving children, Dan and his wife Sydney, Ben and his wife, Cathy; Melinda and her husband, John; Sarah and her husband, Rob; Patricia and her husband, Mitch; John and his wife Cathy; Claude and his wife, Kris, and Robert, along with 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. A memorial service for Dana will be held Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 11 am to 1 pm at LifeLink Foundation, 9661 Delaney Creek Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33619.
Blount & Curry Life Event Center - MacDill
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Memories and Condolences
for Dana Shires
Bill Anderson
July 31, 2025
Sorry to be in TN so missed this. A great man and better friend
Anabel Santana
June 7, 2025
My condolences to the family
It was an honor to know Dr Shires and take care of Him
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Matthew Quance
May 20, 2025
MAy God Bless you and your loved ones. You brought so much to so many.
Kenneth Smiley
May 14, 2025
I'm so sorry for your loss
Richard F. Lockey
May 14, 2025
Great friend and innovative physician. We will miss him. Richard F. Lockey, M.D and Family.
Nicholas Sears MD
May 14, 2025
Dana has a special place in my heart. He welcomed me to the transplant community when I moved to Tampa to join USF COM as a cardiac transplant surgeon. We shared not only a love of medicine but a love of Skiing and Steamboat Springs CO. Dana my friend I will miss you dearly. Rest in peace
David Lubin, MD
May 14, 2025
Dana was one of my attending physicians while I was an intern at TGH in the 70's. He was compassionate and a great teacher, and certainly a top-notch nephrologist, one of group who also gave us Gatorade. Condolences to his family and friends. Just a few years ago, he signed a Gatorade bottle, which I proudly display on one of my memorabilia shelves.
Kandi Byrd
May 14, 2025
A truly remarkable man; a legend. I worked under him for many years at Lifelink, he was a great Mentor, and had true love and compassion for his patients, his family, his animals and his friends. RIP Sir and thank you for everything.
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