Obituary: Sid Kirschner

Sid Kirschner, 88, left this world on Feb. 21, 2023. In Sid’s 88 years, he accomplished, both personally and professionally, the unfathomable for many. Sid was a tireless volunteer, successful businessman and most importantly terrific husband, father, and grandfather.

Sid was born in Canada but grew up in the Bronx. He was an avid Yankees and New York Giants fan. He attended Stuyvesant High School, where he may have spent more time throwing dice then going to class.

A set of fluke circumstances lead Sid to the New Mexico School of Mining where he earned his degree as a Mining Engineer. When Sid boarded the bus from New York City to Albuquerque, he never looked back.

After college, Sid moved to LA, where he met his late wife, Judy Fishman. They were married in 1957 and brought three beautiful children into this world. In 1964, the family relocated to New Jersey for what was just the beginning of Sid’s continual upward movement in the business world.

In 1973, Sid received a phone call from Atlanta-based National Service Industries that would re-shape his family’s life. With the unwavering support of his wife and kids, the family made the move to Atlanta and Sid went to work for NSI as a Group Vice President and eventually became the CEO of this publicly held company.

Sadly, Sid lost his wife, Judy, in 1986. Sid had a remarkable ability to always move forward, to appreciate what he had in the past, and to live in the present. With the support of his kids, Sid did exactly that.

Sid went on to find his current life partner, Carole Kelley. Carole has been a devoted wife to Sid for 35 years. Together they traveled both near and far and enjoyed everything life had to offer, always sharing in the pleasure of life with their family.

In 1991, immediately after his retirement from NSI, Sid was recruited to be the CEO of Northside Hospital. After that retirement Sid became the headmaster of The Davis Academy, then the CEO of the Piedmont Heart Institute, and lastly, Head of the Piedmont Foundation.

More important to Sid than his business accomplishments was his belief in giving back to the community. Sid spent countless hours volunteering in numerous capacities at The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Jewish Family & Career Services, The Davis Academy, the William Breman Jewish Home, and many other organizations.

Sid will be missed by many, but most specifically by his family. He is survived by his wife, Carole; his three children, Ron (Lori) Kirschner, Lisa (Mark) Greenberg, and Lori Kirschner; his five grandchildren, Josh (Dana), Brad, Haley, Jamie and Noah; and his great-grandson Jordan.

There was a memorial service at The Temple at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23. Shiva was held at the home of Ron and Lori Kirschner on Thursday, Feb. 23 and on Saturday, Feb. 25 Donations may be made in Sid’s memory to the Judith L. Kirschner fund at The Temple or to Jewish HomeLife (“The Jewish Home”). Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.