Dr. Muni L. Narayan

Dr. Muni Lakshmi Narayan, known as “Dr. M.L.,” of Clearwater, FL passed away at age 83 on August 2nd, 2022. He was born on July 30th, 1939, in Kamasamudram, India, a village 40 miles east of Bangalore. Dr. Narayan attended Bangalore Medical College. Upon learning of the US’s recruitment efforts of foreign-born physicians, he pursued the American Dream with his wife, Dr. Janaki Narayan, moving to the United States in 1971. After completing his fellowship training in cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, Dr. Narayan discovered the beautiful City of Clearwater in 1977, where he would spend the remainder of his life. He practiced cardiology for 39 years in his adopted country, retiring in 2006. Having grown up poor in India, he understood the necessity of providing much-needed care for underserved communities and never refused a patient for their inability to pay. Beginning in 1977 while practicing full time, he volunteered regularly at the Clearwater Free Clinic and, post-retirement, he added the St. Petersburg Free Clinic to his volunteer work, splitting his time between both. Dr. Narayan later donated his medical office building to the Clearwater Free Clinic to further the mission of providing critical care to vulnerable populations.

Dr. Narayan loved his culture and was an active member of the South Indian community. Among his many accomplishments, he was a founding member of the Hindu Temple of Florida and Sunday School with his dear friend (the late Professor A.N.V. Rao). Most recently, Dr. Narayan served as president of the Florida Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, one of the many local and national organizations he led.

Dr. Narayan cherished spending time with his friends at social gatherings, especially card parties, until 2020. His love of adventure led him to travel the world, experiencing six of the seven continents.

Dr. Narayan was the proudest Thatha to his four beloved grandchildren, never missing a birthday, pre-K or kindergarten graduation, or a Grandparents Day. In his final years, he was grateful for the sacrifices and devoted attention of his brother-in-law Chakrapani Bichali. When asked about his life by his eldest grandson, Dr. Narayan said, “I learned a lot from the worst of the bad times and the good times. I never thought I could have all that has happened in my life. Today, I am very happy with Ammamma, two daughters and four grandchildren. I am happy with what I am.”

Dr. Narayan is survived by his wife of 51 years, Janaki, daughters Sujani Narayan (Anand Palagiri) and Sanitha Ulsh (Jason), grandchildren (Kathan Palagiri, Layla Ulsh, Maya Palagiri, and Jamin Ulsh), brother M.V. Naidu (Pushpa), brother M. Janardhan (Sumathi), brother M. Anand (Jayalakshmi), sister Dr. Manjula Kothapalli (Dr. Shanakaraiah), sister Mallika Murthy (Ananda), brother M. Sudhakara (Anusuya),

brother M. Chandrashekar (Komala), sister Padmini Narayan (Suresh), sister-in-law Shashikala Naidu, sister-in-law Venkatalakshmi Jayaprakash, and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Munivenkata Swamy, mother Kamalamma Swamy, and brothers Purushothama Naidu and Jayaprakash Swamy.

A funeral service for Dr. Narayan will be held Monday, August 8, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at National Cremation Society Clearwater, 4945 East Bay Drive, Clearwater, FL 33764.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nationalcremation.com/location/clearwater for the Narayan family.