Charles A. Gundersen

Charles A. Gundersen, 92, of Naples, FL, husband of the late Jean E. (Schweizer) Gundersen, died on November 21, 2025, surrounded by family. Charles was born in Brooklyn, NY on December 1, 1932, to George and Ellen (Nilsen) Gundersen. He grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. At an early age he learned to play classical piano. He was gifted with a keen ear for music and would play the organ for church services in Harlem. Charles continued to entertain family and friends with his piano playing over the years, especially on holidays and at parties.

Charles enlisted in the United States Coast Guard after high school and spent 3 years in the North Atlantic during the Korean war, stationed in Portsmouth, NH. Charles later received his bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut and then his medical doctorate from Boston University in 1963. After an internship and residency at Hartford Hospital from 1963 to 1967, he opened a medical practice in Glastonbury, CT where he and his wife Jean along with their three daughters Carolyn, Diane and Pamela. They lived there for 38 years before he and his wife moved to Portland, CT in 2005. During his long and distinguished career, he was honored to be named Assistant Director of Medicine at Hartford Hospital and appointed as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Medical School. He held both of these positions for 7 years. Additionally, he served as Director of Medical Services at The Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital for 6 years. In 1987, during what his family called a bit of a mid-life crisis Charles decided to pursue his law degree from the Western New England Law School. After passing the bar he quickly realized that medicine was his true calling and he returned to the practice of medicine, where he thrived at healing and helping people, for an additional 25 years in Connecticut. After retirement he continued to practice medicine by volunteering his time at a clinic in Naples, FL.

Charles and Jean were snowbirds for many years before finally settling in Naples, FL permanently. Throughout his life Charles was an avid tennis player, playing several times a week well into his 80's. He loved to play tennis with friends, and nothing made him laugh harder than making the other players run for a drop shot. Charles was dedicated to his family and married to the love of his life for over 60 years. He and Jean enjoyed the Philharmonic, theater, art shows, dinners with family and friends, and traveling.

Charles was very supportive and proud of his three daughters, his six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Charles leaves behind his three daughters Carolyn Kahrs and her husband Henry, Diane Bergan and her husband William, Pamela Dahlgren and her husband Timothy, and his grandchildren Alexander Kahrs, Samantha Herrscher and her husband Daniel-John, Dennis Bergan, Emily Passos and her husband Fillipe, Charles Kahrs and his fiancé Kendyl Spiars, and Christopher Dahlgren, his great-grandchildren Louisa Herrscher, Theodore Herrscher and Ella Mary Kahrs and his four nieces, Geleen Donovan, Karen Jepeal, Joanne Gundersen, Susan Scott, and their families. Charles was predeceased by his brother George Gundersen and his wife Kathleen. Charles was a fun-loving and devoted family man who will be missed by all who knew him. At his request there will be no calling hours. An intimate burial and memorial service will be held in Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to the Juvenile Diabetes Reward for a Cure or the Kawasaki Disease Foundation.